Hillary Clinton offered the following historical insight today to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader editorial board:

"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right?  We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.  You know I just, I don't understand it."

This was one of those times at first I thought, well, that's an odd place to go, but probably not such a big deal.  I assumed she just was referring to the fact that we should remember that Kennedy was still fighting for the 1968 nomination in June, since that was when he was assassinated: the night of the California primary.  And then I read another opinion, which...illuminated things a bit more.

She has a point: June is a great month for political assassinations.

Why drop out of the race before all the assassins have had their say?

I know the above was catty, but it does raise the obvious question: what did she mean by her statement?  It could have been simple calendar marking, but there are plenty of other primary candidates (i.e., Ted Kennedy in 1980) to point out who were still around in June of their election years. 

The alternative point she could have been making is that the eventual nominee in 1968 wasn't RFK—it was Hubert Humphrey.  The only reason it wasn't RFK was because he was assassinated in June, thereby paving the way for the establishment candidate Humphrey to claim the mantle.  Therefore, it's not a good idea to ever drop out before the nomination is settled.  I mean, who knows what could happen?  Right, Barack?  Right, Bobby?

Oh, but at least she's apologized.  To the Kennedy Family.  To just the Kennedy Family.

Some have speculated that this gaffe represents the death-knell of her campaign.  I don't think so.  Her saving grace with this is that she said it on a Friday afternoon.  The weekend will likely snuff out the noise.