“Houston, they have a problem” are the words to apply to the two parties, though the problems assume different forms. The Democrats seem to be down to exactly one candidate, who performs well enough in some limited venues, but is in other ways flawed. Much of the country believes she’s dishonest. She’s under investigation by the FBI, which is not what you want when you’re running for president. And even if it turns out that there isn’t a fire, the smoke may put off some swing voters. She has been known to show fairly poor candidate skills and political instincts, and she may do so again in the fairly near future. Her campaign has been rocked by so many surprises that one cannot assume they have stopped.

But even without these annoying small problems, there is no precedent for a candidate having cruised unopposed to a nomination, which may be like a team skipping spring training and going to the opening game with slow reflexes, soft muscles and unshed winter fat. Could she sprint on to the field next September trim, fit and ready? Or would she lumber on to it, creaky and slow?