Russert: Obama will claim mathematical lock by June 4

Tim Russert, May 27, 2008 on NBC Nightly News:

The Obama campaign will claim a mathematical lock on the nomination one week from tonight [after South Dakota and Montana], Wednesday morning at the latest...and then Hillary Clinton will have to, I believe, acknowledge that reality and make some very difficult decisions for her campaign. 

Russert's report puts an exclamation point on Ambinder's post from earlier this morning that Obama had three dozen superdelegates sitting in the wings, ready to put Obama over the top depending on what the Rules and Bylaws Committee decides on Saturday. If you're interested in a detailed overview on why what the RBC decides won't make a difference in the nomination battle, read Al Giordano's post on the subject last week.

I hope when Michelle is running for president, Barack remembers this video clip.

Update: On Sunday, David Axelrod said: “By any calculation, we’re within striking distance of getting the absolute number that we need and I’m confident — I’m confident that we will [right after South Dakota and Montana].”