Ariel Leve
We've made some changes
to The Sunday Times
Barack Obama is on the cover of Time magazine. It declares him the winner and it looks as though he will indeed be the Democratic nominee. But Hillary is still campaigning 18 hours a day. People are wondering when she’s going to let go. Maybe she’s in denial. Some people believe she doesn’t know how to get out of the race. Now everyone is asking: does Hillary have an exit strategy?
Having an exit strategy is important. So is having a good sign off. Whenever I’m saying goodbye to someone I like to say, “See you soon.” I know it doesn’t imply a commitment but it feels like I have plans for the future and something to look forward to.
But saying “See you later” – that’s different. When someone says that I tend to ask: when? It creates anxiety. Usually they’ll be silent for a second and look taken aback. Then they’ll say they don’t know – soon.
Since I don’t go out very much it’s rare I have to devise an exit strategy. Also, people usually don’t mind when I leave.
When I do need to provide an excuse I rely on “I don’t feel well.”
As soon as you raise the possibility of illness, no one wants to be around you anyway. This makes the exit less conspicuous.
Another approach is to disappear. In relationships this seems to be the exit strategy my exes employ the most. Why? No talking.
No one wants to explain why they’re dropping out. It’s too messy.
It’s so much easier without explanations, discussions, and feelings.
Also vanishing doesn’t seem to require a great deal of time or effort. One day you just stop returning phone calls. When an e-mail or text arrives, you ignore it. If you don’t have a PA, you screen all calls to make sure you’re unavailable until eventually, the calls stop.
The opposite of this strategy is the way I tend to exit a relationship. The long slow goodbye. Dragging it out as long as possible. Endless dissecting of what went wrong. Who doesn’t love that?
However with Hillary, a big part of the problem is she won’t give up.
I’m all for giving up. It’s very underrated. We’re led to believe it’s a sign of weakness to give up but I don’t see why. I give up all the time. When something gets too hard, I quit. Why not. Giving up is so much more rewarding than winning.
Especially when it comes to sports. I’m not big on competition. If it looks like I’m going to lose, I stop. I’m not a Russian gymnast. What’s the worst that can happen?
The only time I seem to have any real tenacity about something is when it doesn’t matter. The other day I was waiting in the queue for the ladies room and someone tried to cut in. She insisted she was there first, I insisted she wasn’t. It was like a Mexican stand-off. Just then, two stalls opened up simultaneously, so the matter was resolved. There wasn’t really a winner. But refusing to relinquish my place in a queue for the loo – those are the sorts of situations I won't concede.
In Hillary’s case, timing is everything. Her refusal to leave the race when she’s down in the polls makes her look like a fighter. Her refusal to leave the race when Obama is accepting the nomination? That doesn’t make her seem heroic. It makes her seem sad.
People say all the time if you don’t succeed – try, try again. But it would be so much more dignified if she said “I give up. See you later.”

Ariel Leve is a New York based writer with The Sunday Times Magazine. Together with investigative features and in-depth interviews she writes a humorous weekly column, Cassandra. She has twice been nominated for British Press Awards. This year she was highly commended as Feature Writer Of The Year. She has written comedy for television and is currently working on her first novel. Click below to read her Cassandra column
How the new breed of location based mobile services can find your nearest cashpoint, restaurant or wi-fi hotspot
Enjoy screenings of all the classic films you love, plus take advantage of two-for-one tickets
We explore leisure activities that are safe and suitable for all of the family
Times Online's new TV show helps you make the right decisions for your pet
Are you California dreaming? Explore the wonders of the Golden State. Also enter our fantastic competition
See the best entries in this year's competition
Your brain is capable of more than you might think...
An interactive preview of the brand new For Your Eyes Only exhibition
The latest travel news plus the best hotels and gadgets for business travellers

Love Sudoku? Play our brand new interactive game: with added functionality and daily prizes

Are you irritable when you return from work? Drained of emotion? You could be suffering from boreout
Prepare for some shock and awe, petrol lovers. Despite the greens trying to wipe it out, the car is about to offer us the most exciting year ever
We've trawled the brochures and websites to find this summer’s best holidays for every taste and budget

Win one of 2,000 Garnier Ambre Solaire Moisturising Protection Milks

A treasure trove of baubles, booty and stylish quests


50% off top restaurants, book online

2006
£189,500
NW England
2008/08
£169,950
NW England
2007/57
£35,000
South East England
Great car insurance deals online
Circa £82,000 per annum
Birmingham Women's Hospital
Birmingham
To £28k
Barclaycard
Northampton/Liverpool/Teeside
£
Up to £66,000 per annum
Hertfordshire County Council
South East
To £38k
Barclaycard
Northampton/Liverpool
2 Bathrooms, Balcony and Garden
Beautiful Gardens w/ stunning Thames Views
Dining, Shopping & Riverside Pk
Mortgages, bank acc & money transfers to help you buy abroad
Explore mystical Jordan
From £1030 for 7nts 4*
to USA's Most Cosmopolitan City; San Francisco!
£POA
Book Now for Winter 08/09 and Get 10% off!
Great travel insurance deals online
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times. Search globrix.com to buy or rent UK property.
© Copyright 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
God I'm surprised you manage to get out of bed in the mornings! I've never heard such a load of apathetic rubbish in my life!
Hillary is still in the race becasue in reality she knows that she can do what Obama can't - take on McCain & win.
Charlotte , Leeds, UK
If I were in a tight spot give me Hillary as a companion and not Ariel Leve any day! The fact is you can know if a thing is quite/very/extremely hard, but never if it is too hard. To paraphrase Aristotle "Call no task too hard until you're dead."
Kevin Straw, Leicester,
Hillary is about to win TN & likely KY in a landslide; she's won all the big industrial states except IL; Obama can't win against McCain in FL & MI because he blocked the re vote and the seating of their delagates at the convention. Give up? Timothy put it best: Fight the good fight.
Peter Shire, NY, NY
Hillary is leading in TN 73-27%: it's going to be a landslide: likely the same in KY. She's won all t/ important Industrial States, except Il. FL & MI are lost to Obama as his lawyers stopt the re-vote and seating of their deligates. Give up? Why should she?! "Fight the good fight" - Timothy
Peter Shire, NY, NY
If at first you don't succeed, give up before you make a total fool of yourself. Damn, to late.
David Leslie, Perth, Scotland
I think Mitt Romney will get back in at some point.
Dan, Timbuktoo,
Do you just spend all day in a robe? You are a kooky/nut . I'm serious.
Dan, Timbuktoo,
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damned fool about it." -- WC Fields
Tina Rhea, Greenbelt Maryland, US
The line must run. Hillary is time to way out of the line. Obama will take care of all. Take a time and listen Ariel.God Bless all.
Hélcio, Rio, Brasil
dignity versus intelligence. to run one of the world's most powerful countries? i think intellegence has to be the choice over obama's apparent charisma. vote for policy, not personality. it always get you in trouble.
jb, townsville, australia
At the end of the day it makes no difference: we are talking about the lowest common denominators here-the essence of democratic candidates.
ian, london, uk
all this dont quit stuff is crazy. why make your health suffer for what ? pride? life is too short - as reach 50 and see many friends passing away
alan davis, Falkirk, uk
I don't know who this woman is, but thank you thank you thank you for a bit of common sense. I am reminded of the Olympic Silver Medal winner who hung her Silver Medal in her bathroom over the toilet with a sign that said "LOSER".
Stephen Boone, Dallas, Texas
It's a case of knowing when to hold ém, knowing when to fold ém, as the song says.
BundyGil, Bundaberg, Australia
"Giving up is so much more rewarding than winning."
What exactly is the reward? I cant think of any, unless you're happy with the status quo. You don't give up until you're certain you've given your all. Sometimes you just never give up because you can't see the line.
Rob, Wasaga Beach, Canada
You need the defeat to draw the line.
That's Hillary: she hasn't given her all, so she'll never give up until it is writ large by defeat.
She still has a chance to retain some dignity even then
If you are referring to Hillary's lack of self awareness,
Rob, Wasaga Beach, Canada
(strange how we expect that of women more than men) then your point evaporates in the face of that very lack almost being a pre-requisite for a career in politics. Public figures live their lives 'on the outside' which is why we love watching, but you can't move the goalposts now.
Rob, Wasaga Beach, Canada
That's the attitude. It's what made Britain great. I don't mean the giving up or not giving up. The never say die. I mean the determination to have proper queues. It defines us.
Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK
I understand your view but I see HIllary´s as well.
I am for Obama, but I accept Hillary´s attitude.
armstrongfl, Murcia, Spain
I dont know whether I agree with you about Hillary, but to some extent you are right - dignity is the one thing you have control of yourself whatever else has gone before. You can be born clever, rich, tall, wherever, and it's just a matter of fortune. It's just a shame it's lost currency.
TW, Shrapton,