The race for the Democratic presidential nomination continues unabated. The crucial Pennsylvania primary is on April 22, meaning that the race will continue for three more weeks, at the very least. Hillary Clinton leads in that state by 12 points according to most polls, and assuming the lead holds, she will stay in the race until May 6. While her campaign has not been on solid footing since the massive Feb. 5 primaries, she’s been able to weather a long series of defeats to win Ohio and Texas, and give her campaign enough breathing room to continue.

A growing number of voices inside the party have begun to express public concern about the race’s impact on the success of the party in the fall elections. Both campaigns have gone more negative since Feb. 5, and as a result, the relations between the candidates ave become more acrimonious. Perhaps more importantly, their staffs and orbiting advisors have begun to enter the fray. Samantha Power, a prominent journalist and advisor to the Obama campaign, called Clinton a “monster” and immediately resigned. Geraldine Ferraro, the 1984 Democratic vice-presidential nominee, made a series of remarks that were construed as racist, and she resigned as an advisor to the Clinton campaign.

Whoever wins the nomination — and Obama is still the favorite — it won’t be pretty. If Obama wins, he’ll have won without the broad support of Latinos, working-class whites and older women, all key components of the Democratic base. If Clinton wins, she’ll have won despite alienating African-Americans, the most reliable Democratic constituency, and wealthy donors that are crucial for the party’s success. Obama has done better in small states and swing states; Clinton has won all of the big states besides Illinois. Whoever wins the nomination will alienate a lot of people. A recent poll shows that 16 percent of Clinton supporters will not vote in the general election if Obama is the nominee. The same percentage of Obama supporters will not vote in an election in which Clinton is the Democratic candidate.

The race has come to a point where neither winner will emerge unscathed or as the consensus candidate. Despite having a sizable lead in delegates, and frontrunner status, Obama’s been unable to finish off Clinton and allowed her several comebacks. It’s a testament to the unresolved weaknesses of the Obama campaign that Clinton is still inning big states despite running out of ways to win.

It’s clear that whoever wins, John McCain is better positioned to win the presidency. While Democrats spend enormous sums of money just to defeat each other in the primary, John McCain can present himself as the rational alternative. He has several months to reach out to conservatives, form a campaign staff and fundraise before the Democrats even have an alternative. His presidential bid is essentially unopposed right now and will be that way for the foreseeable future.

The only way for the advantage to be restored to the Democrats is to have the names “Clinton” and “Obama” both on the ticket. The two candidates should agree, now, that they will run together, no matter who wins in the end. It is true that both presidential candidates are not particularly suited for the vice presidency, each being very self-confident and with very clear agendas. This agreement should also include significant duties for the vice presidential role, either informally, as Dick Cheney has held, or concrete oversight over certain policy areas, as John Kerry reportedly offered to McCain in 2004. I also believe this agreement will have the effect of lessening the tension of the campaign. It will be difficult for either candidate to accept the vice-presidency, but it is slightly better than nothing, and that’s something.

It is clear that the candidates, and their staffs, have a great deal of animosity toward each other. Both candidates have been accused of putting themselves before their party, and this is their chance to put the Democratic Party above their own presidential ambitions. The candidates will also have to resolve their divergent styles and agenda, no matter who wins the nomination. That will be difficult, but for victory, it will be necessary.

Stuart Baimel is picking himself as a running mate. Email him at sbaimel "at" stanford.edu.