How many degrees of debate fatigue are there?

We’re being challenged.

Senator Hillary Clinton is challenging her Democratic
Party presidential rival, Senator Barack Obama, to a debate. The call
is part of the escalating rhetoric between the two as they campaign in
the central state of Indiana.

Escalating rhetoric is one thing, one regrettable thing. But what
the heck else can these two debate? Will they ever get around to the
issues of the day?

On Saturday, Clinton called for a 90-minute debate
without a moderator…Obama’s campaign aides say they are studying the
debate request. Obama has complained that in the last debate, on April
16th, the moderators focused too much on political trivia and too
little on real issues.

This campaign, grinding on as it is, cannot be elevating anyone.
It’s becoming a contest of staying power. But will the voters hang in?
They’re starting to ask more serious questions about the candidates.
But it’s very late in the game.

In national polls, neither Democrat seems stronger than
the other: The realclearpolitics.com average of polls as this is
written shows Obama leading John McCain 46 percent to 45 percent and
Clinton and McCain tied at 46 percent apiece.

Here’s where the effect of thinking late in the game has had the most impact.

Hillary Clinton’s current and tenuous popular vote lead
may not persuade Democratic super-delegates to reject the candidate who
has, after all, won more delegates in primaries and caucuses. But it
may prompt some to think hard about Electoral College arithmetic.

Why weren’t they prompted in the early primaries?