From Morton Kondracke

"The best political joke of 2008 was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's, R-Ky., at the Washington Press Club Foundation's dinner in February -- about how the Democratic race featured Hillary Rodham Clinton, a New York senator born in Illinois, and Barack Obama, an Illinois senator 'who seems to have been born in a manger.'

"Except, the joke isn't valid anymore. The long, contentious Democratic primary battle has reduced Obama from a messiah -- except among his most ardent disciples -- to an ordinary mortal."