Hillary best-suited for her new job as secretary of state

The appointment is especially unusual because the man who gives her the plum job is her formal rival during the Democratic presidential nomination — the longest and arguably the most divisive contest in history. Few would have ever imagined in June when Obama clinched the nomination that the divided Democratic Party could have come together again to win the November presidential election against John McCain of the Republican Party.

Back then, Hillary had reason to feel angry and upset. She won more popular votes than Obama during the primaries — 18 million or 55 percent to be exact. She had a feeling of entitlement, and rightly so, because she looked like the unbeatable candidate before the first primary took place in Iowa on Jan. 3. Her campaign was better financed and organized than John Edwards’ and Obama’s, her two rivals. Edwards dropped out in late January.

After the Iowa race, in which she finished an embarrassing third among the trio, the contest turned increasingly negative and ugly due to Obama’s strong showing and Hillary’s win-at-any-cost strategy. Her husband Bill campaigned in full force for his wife, often using controversial language that had racial overtones.

As far as primaries are concerned, the contest between Obama and Mrs. Clinton were both dramatic and historic. This was because Obama is the first credible African-American candidate of a major party, and Hillary is the first female presidential candidate that could shatter the glass ceiling. Either would make history if any of them wins.

I have been following America’s 2008 elections closely, not just on TV, the Internet, or in the print media. I took part in Hillary’s campaign rally in Los Angeles early this year, two days before the crucial “Super Tuesday” on Feb. 5, when 21 states including such super states like California and New York held primaries. California’s 370 delegate votes were up for grabs, while the magic number to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination was 2025.

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