For those who wonder if Sen. Hillary Clinton will give up her quest to become the Democratic presidential nominee, the answer is a definite maybe — but not until June 3.

Considering the time she has been running, that isn't such a long time, less than a month away.

That date was suggested by her campaign manager Terry McAuliffe, but it is not firm and it is open to all kinds of interpretation.

McAuliffe predicted that by June 3 the Democrats would have a presumptive nominee and that if that was not Sen. Clinton, that she would campaign for Barack Obama.

What is left up in the air is that it is by no means certain that a candidate will have enough delegates by June 3 to have sealed the deal. It is possible, of course, but of the two candidates, Sen. Obama is the only one who has much of a chance to get there.

For instance, for Sen. Clinton to overcome her delegate deficit, she would have to take about 72 percent of the remaining delegates and the unpledged superdelegates.

We'll flat out predict with the greatest confidence that this is not going to happen. She may win every remaining primary — we doubt that, too — but the margins are not nearly going to be enough to stop Sen. Obama.

We think we understand how disappointing this must be to Sen. Clinton. Given her drive it would be difficult for her to quit. She is no quitter, that's for sure and even those who oppose her would have to acknowledge that. But at some point, she will have to realize — and we're sure she has already been told this — she is going to have to bow out for the good of the Democrats' chances in November. The longer she stays in — the more the Democratic candidates beat up on one another — the more difficult the Democrats will have it.

If Sen. Clinton needs any more proof of that, now comes the stunningly clear suggestion by right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh to vote for Hillary Clinton. He was not making that advice to Democrats, but rather to Republicans. It was his mission to do harm to the Democrats.

There's nothing wrong with Limbaugh's request, that is just politics.

But Clinton herself should see what is going on. She is allowing herself to be used as a dupe.

That is worse and even more embarrassing than losing the presidential race. At some point the folly has to end.