I recognize the cons and perceived risks that his staff might put forward, but I agree that for Obama West Virginia represents a lost moment.

David Broder writes in The Washington Post:

Barack Obama really didn't need a victory in West Virginia. He was already well on his way to wrapping up the Democratic nomination, and the 28 delegates at stake were not going to change that picture, no matter how that primary came out.

But he should have competed there, if only to signal his awareness of its special place in Democratic history. Forty-eight years ago, it was West Virginia more than any other state that propelled John Kennedy into the White House.

[Prior to the West Virginia primary, Democratic leaders were still] trying to gauge whether Kennedy would fall victim to the same prejudice that undercut Al Smith, the first Catholic nominee, in 1928. . . .

That state seemed made-to-order for Humphrey. Chronically poor, its residents relied on New Deal programs to survive. A former Klan redoubt, many of its voters were suspicious of Catholics. The mineworkers and other unions were solidly in Humphrey's corner. The state's main power broker, Sen. Robert Byrd, was backing Humphrey in hopes of blocking Kennedy and opening the way for his friend Lyndon Johnson to jump into the race and capture the nomination at the Los Angeles convention.

Despite the odds, Kennedy did not hesitate. In reality, he had no choice but to tackle Humphrey in West Virginia; only by winning there could he persuade the men who controlled state delegations from California to New York to give him a chance.

All of the energy was on the underdog Kennedy's side -- and that is what the voters responded to. As I interviewed on downtown sidewalks and country lanes, it became clear that Kennedy could pull off an upset -- and he did.

I would have liked to have seen Obama attempt a similar feat. It would have been difficult, but he might have pulled it off. Hillary Clinton, like Humphrey, was about out of money, while Obama, like Kennedy, had plenty of cash. And Obama, like Kennedy, had more available young volunteers than he could possibly deploy.

But because he did not have to win this test, while Kennedy did, Obama played it safe and made only a token effort in West Virginia.

That was a rational, prudent decision. He has other and better opportunities to write a finish to this campaign. Next week, Kentucky may be difficult for Obama, but Oregon -- a classic yuppie state with a fondness for smart, low-key politicians -- should be easy pickings. The delegates he will win there could virtually clinch the nomination.

But, like Kennedy, Obama has questions he needs to answer.

He has seen doubts grow about his ability to win working-class white votes. West Virginia could have helped put those doubts to rest. Now they will remain until the fall.