Eight years ago the primary season ended with Hillary Clinton pleading with superdelegates to remember she had collected more popular votes in primaries and caucuses than Barack Obama.
The superdelegates — elected officials and longtime party activists — sensed history and stuck with Obama who would become the first African American president.
Eight years later the primary season is ending, only this time Clinton holds a commanding lead with the superdelegates.
Her challenger Bernie Sanders will plead with them he has momentum — despite having three million less votes than Clinton — but the superdelegates, sensing history and the potential of electing the first woman as president, will stick with Clinton.
There is no question the socialist independent from Vermont made progressive politics cool this year. Sanders has made his mark far and beyond what even he expected. And he will be an important speaker at the Democratic National Convention next month.
But his presidential campaign is over. Any lingering campaign from here until the convention only hurts Democratic chances against Donald Trump.
It’s time for him to thank his many supporters and say goodnight.