There is one other consequence of Spitzer fall, John. Should Obama lose the Democratic nomination to Clinton, and she subsequently loses the general election to McCain, it is a near certainty that Obama will be the Democratic nominee in 2012 — probably with no serious challenger. Spitzer wore his ambition on his sleeve and, absent the Emperor’s Club revelations, talk about his presidential campaign committee would have surely started in 2009 regardless of this fall’s outcome. Now, should Obama need a second bite at the apple, this week’s news was terrific for him: his greatest potential rival in the party just self-destructed.