There is evidence late tonight that the Clinton Campaign is circling the wagons and sending their big guns into the field fighting, after John Edwards set off a network news prime time bombshell by surfacing in Grand Rapids, MI, alongside Barack Obama at Obama's first big Michigan rally. Barack Obama's campaign used live network air for the biggest endorsement they've had yet, and it seemed to send Clinton's senior campaign staff into tornado-spinning mode at the exact same moment she was attempting to shore up pledged supporters in DC.

"The Hill" newspaper website is reporting tonight that Cinton's Chief Disciplinarian Harold Ickes was visibly keeping her committed whips (political surrogates) in line tonight, making it "absolutely clear" that she is in it until June 3rd. Apparently there was a mixed message sent out Tuesday night in the "Thank You" message that went out from Hillary, where she discussed Kentucky and South Dakota contests, but failed to mention later Primaries in South Dakota and Puerto Rico.

Edwards endorsement of Obama, however, seemed to be what was driving the freakouts within the Clinton campaign, along with the drumbeat of the possibility that Clinton might miss making payroll Thursday for much of her campaign staff. The rumors were circulating on Progressive-leaning Internet bulletin boards and forums throughout the day, and echoed repeatedly on Progressive talk radio. By late afternoon, leaks that the Clinton campaign is $25 million in-the-hole after West Virginia's contest Tuesday (where she won handily) were being confirmed on news websites by "unnamed high-level campaign sources."

National syndicated talk radio host Randi Rhodes took the broadest swipe at the Clinton Camp, declaring to potential Clinton donors that if they insisted on donating to Clinton they were in reality "repaying her for running for President." Rhodes continued to hammer the statement with callers on her show, highlighting the significant personal funds that Sen. Clinton and husband, Former President Bill Clinton, have loaned to the campaign in recent weeks.

Through it all, though, Clinton mouthpieces seem to be staying on message, insisting their candidate is "in it to win it" no matter what. This despite their candidate's now repeated committments to "fully support the Democratic nominee" regardless of whom it is. Senator Clinton made several similar statements at campaign events in the last 48 hours, intensifying speculation that she is merely continuing her campaign to enhance her own political power when she finally does decide to end it.

Thursday's big questions will likely be what affect the Edwards endorsement has on Obama's overall delegate and pledged Superdelegate counts, his support amongst likely blue-collar and Union households, and white voters in the South. With Kentucky and Oregon as the next battlegrounds in the primary fight, Edwards announcement could swing major numbers of bloe-collar and white Southern voters to Obama. Edwards previously had polled extremely well in both states -- Kentucky, due to his neighbor-state and Southern heritage; and Oregon, because of his Populist message that resonated with voters there.

For Clinton it appears that the clock is ticking on how long her donors will continue to fill the well of a campaign that many insiders are publicly calling "financially irresponsible" in its underpinnings. Whether that logic chokes off her already way-in-the-red-zone fundraising operation will be a major question, as the news leaks out Thursday about whether her hard working campaign staff get their paychecks. To his credit, Clinton Campaign Chairman Terry McAuliffe reassured supporters and staff alike; stating on a conference call with Montana Democratic insiders today that the campaign had enough resources to make it through June 3rd -- the date of the Montana Primary.