Exit, Sort of, Sen. Clinton

She made many mistakes -- but also won many votes.

THE END of Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign offers more than the usual opportunities for finger-pointing and blame-shifting. The mistakes were many -- from tactics and strategy to money and message -- although these probably would have been survivable against a less formidable foe. The campaign inexplicably viewed caucus states as not meriting time and attention. It underestimated the appeal of Barack Obama, failed to take seriously his fundraising prowess, misjudged how many of the young voters who flocked to his rallies would turn up at the polls. It assumed that an aura of inevitability would carry Ms. Clinton triumphantly to the nomination, then squandered its money and had no plan or organization in place for the contests beyond Super Tuesday. The campaign discounted the yearning of voters for change and failed to offer, until too late, a compelling narrative about why they should choose Ms. Clinton.

We could go on, but others will, and in the litany of woulda, coulda, shoulda, it's easy to forget some of Ms. Clinton's substantial achievements. However one tabulates the popular vote, and whatever the importance of that metric, the fact remains that Ms. Clinton won more votes than any primary candidate in either party in history. Ms. Clinton's determination and tenacity were remarkable; the next woman who runs for president will face fewer doubts about whether she can win the nomination. As much as Ms. Clinton may have made Mr. Obama's road to the nomination more difficult, she also helped make him a better candidate.

There were other, less admirable campaign moments. As matters of substance, Ms. Clinton's hostility toward free-trade agreements and her efforts to distance herself from some of the signature achievements of her husband's presidency were disappointing. Similarly, her evolution on Iraq to an increasingly inflexible opposition to U.S. involvement there was an unfortunate capitulation to political demands. Her embrace of a gasoline tax holiday was sheer pandering. Some of the criticism hurled at the campaign for allegedly racist statements was unwarranted, but there were remarks, especially statements by former president Bill Clinton, that were troubling. Mr. Clinton may have helped in some states, but his loose-lipped presence on the campaign trail was not reassuring for those contemplating another Clinton White House.

While it is understandable that Ms. Clinton does not want to cede the limelight to Mr. Obama and fade quietly away, the fact of the matter is that he won the nomination. Her non-concession speech Tuesday night may have made Clinton supporters feel better, but with the eyes of the country on her, Ms. Clinton sank to the occasion. She could have been more graceful in defeat: Acknowledging that Mr. Obama was, in fact, the presumptive nominee might have been a good start. It's good that Ms. Clinton seems to be heading in that direction.