There is little over 8 months to go until the American people go to the polls to elect the new "leader of the free world", and yet the civil war occurring within the Democratic political party wages on with no visible end in sight. It’s a proverbial clash of the titans with Barack Obama in the red corner and Hillary Clinton in the other. Blow by blow, these two have thrown countless numbers of lefts and rights with neither competitor conceding defeat: even with the election quickly approaching.

Now, what message does this great divide in left-wing American politics say to American voters and the rest of world? Its fairly clear: Vote us in and we’ll give you a party that can’t make up its’ mind. And this message was broadcast loud and clear when on April 2 Hillary and her husband, ex-President Bill Clinton, made direct arguments to the Democratic superdelegates, claiming that Obama could not win the general election against presumptive Republican candidate, John McCain.

April 2 was not a great day for Democratic unity; The San Francisco Chronicle broke a story about Bill Clinton slamming former presidential contender for Bill Richardson for his endorsement of Obama. According to the article by Philip Martier and Andrew Ross, Bill Clinton pleas of unity were extinguished when he asked those who attended about the “fairness of the votes in state caucuses that voted for Obama”. With accusations raining in from the Clinton camp including that Obama's stance on the Iraq war is "all talk", it is difficult not to notice that the Democratic party is in a certain amount of strife.

According to Salena Zito of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Clinton has attacked both of her rivals in relation to the Iraq issue. She claims that she is the one candidate “ready, willing and able to end the war and to rebuild our military while honouring our soldiers and our veterans”, that Obama will “only end the war”. So, even though they share the same basic policy aims, Hillary managed to degrade Obama once again.

And yet, stepping up her campaign in the must-win primary in Pennsylvania, Clinton faces an uphill battle with Obama leading in overall votes. If she or Obama want a fighting chance of winning the Democratic candidature, they need to do three things:

1. Don’t underestimate Obama: Clinton extended an olive branch to Obama by asking him to be her Vice President when she is elected. Ouch! Not a very smart presumption with Obama leading in the primary Democratic votes.

2. Cheap shots are out: It is a negative side effect of a political campaign that sees all candidates from every party throwing insults at each other. But nothing is more hurtful to your own campaign is when you continually attack your own party members. Now, both Hillary and Obama are guilty of this but if either want any chance of making it into the Whitehouse, attacks on party members should be strictly forbidden: unless it is truly necessary.

3. Focus all energy on McCain: If either candidate want to be elected, they must realise that the time and energy that went into destroying the others’ campaign is simply wasted. Both should realise that standing in their way is John McCain, who it should be noted, has spent a considerable amount of time taking advantage of the battle between Hilary and Obama.

What’s the answer?

It is about time the Democrats get down to business and finally turn their full attention to the Whitehouse race. The problem is that both candidates are stubborn, with neither conceding defeat until the last vote is counted. What the Democrats need right now is a leader. Without a strong and decisive leader, the Democrats will have no other choice but to try again for the top spot in 4 more years.

But on the plus side, this great divide has shown the Republican party that it doesn’t matter who is elected; the Democrats will not back down.