Well, these numbers are encouraging if the Dems are this split and are still one point behind McCain. This means that if the dems run even an average campaign this year, they should win...this is of course thinking that 95% of those in the dem primaries would still vote for the generic dem and that most of the 15% that will leave the party if their nominee is not chosen can be convinced to come back. I think if the dems can get back 40% of those voters which constitute 5% of the electorate, the dems will win. If they can't do that and if they lose this election, the democrats will officially be the permanent, crisis-proof minority, regardless of how well they do in Congress. At that point it won't be unreasonable that many Dem leaders would consider a new way foward.
I really don't see how we can be a permanent minority when we have a majority control of the states and of the Congress.
