The thing is that it obviously hasn’t sunk in. So, as a member of the press, I’d be doing a disservice by not acting as yet another part of the long wind tunnel that makes up the modern media in the U.S.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, it’s time to give it up.

The Democratic primary is over for all intents and purposes. Frankly, it’s been over for a long while now, but the Clinton campaign has managed to do its best impression of Freddy Krueger and simply refuse to die.

Surprisingly, I’d argue that thus far, the lingering contest has done more good than harm. It’s energized the Democratic forces in states such as Indiana — states that are generally passed over, having little say in picking nominees.

If you need proof, just ask yourself how much reporting the Republican primary in Indiana received compared to the Democratic.

There’s also the benefit that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. — the likely nominee — is being forced to go through a harsher vetting process than a candidate normally goes through. Because the primaries have dragged on so long, it has given the Clinton campaign more time to find something damaging in Obama’s history.

Imagine if Obama had been able to take a break from the campaign trail at the same time as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., did.

It’s likely that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright issue would have flared up in July or August instead of April.

The Obama campaign was given far more time to respond to the issue, and that will likely dampen the damaging fallout.

Given this, some may argue that if benefits are flowing from an extended process, what is the harm in continuing the process to the bitter end?

The problem is, as we approach the final deadline for selecting a nominee and Clinton doesn’t back off, a schism will grow in the party. Nonsense and bickering is already breaking out.

Large Democratic donor Harvey Weinstein threatened House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a complete cash shutdown unless the Michigan and Florida delegates — both of whom favor Clinton after tainted primaries — are seated.

Eventually the Democratic party will have to rally behind one candidate.

The more the Clinton campaign clings to their quixotic campaign for the nomination, the more likely they or their supporters will say or do something that will cause major damage to either the party or their standing in it.

The esteemed polling firm Rasmussen Reports has announced that they’ll cease any polling related to Clinton for the presidential campaign, instead focusing on the Obama and McCain matchup. The Obama campaign is increasingly focusing on McCain and not Clinton.

These are just some of the continuing signs that the Clinton machine is fighting a lost cause.

While this fact used to be as murky as a swamp, it’s now clearer than purified water.

The Obama campaign isn’t about to self-destruct. Super delegates are not about to flock to her en masse.

She is not about to sweep the remaining primaries with ridiculous margins.

As I said, this isn’t an original thought, but it’s needed to make a shout so deafening it can’t be ignored.

It’s time for Clinton to turn her ears to what the nation is saying and the media is screaming.

It’s over.

James Harrison is a State News columnist. Reach him at harri310@msu.edu .