Apologizing for a campaign

The first time I ever saw Bill Clinton was in the early 1970s. He worked in Texas on behalf of George McGovern's campaign for president.

One thing from that campaign stuck with me all these years. I don't know if Bill Clinton said it, but I'm sure he heard it.

We all knew that Dick Nixon was going to win, of course. Here's what somebody said--

Even if we don't win this thing, you're involved in a campaign that you will never have to apologize for.

We didn't do any dirty tricks, so far as I know. We were idealists trying to change the nation.

Fast forward to 2008. I wasn't around for Hillary Clinton's campaign, but I think there is more than idealism. I sense a "win at all costs" attitude... "if I can't win, nobody will win" scorched earth approach.

I don't sense the idealism of the McGovern race, and I wonder if Senator Clinton or her staff will ever feel the need to apologize for it.