NOW THAT Barack Obama has secured enough delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination, some rethinking will have to occur where the political establishment came out for Hillary Clinton in the Pennsylvania primary. The list of Clinton backers among top Democrats was remarkable -- Gov. Ed Rendell, Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (and former Mayor Sophie Masloff) and members of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. That so many could march in step while being out of step with much of the rest of the country didn't endear this state to Sen. Obama. But he can't afford to bear a grudge. He needs Pennsylvania. He needs the help of those who backed Mrs. Clinton. If they support him as enthusiastically, they might yet pick a winner.

THERE IS sometimes satisfaction, of course, in backing never-say-die strivers for the big prize, as this region well knows from the gallant exploits of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who came up a little short in the Stanley Cup final last week. In losing four games to two to the Detroit Red Wings, the Penguins not only held the region in thrall but also confirmed that Pittsburgh is a hockey town. That foundation was laid in the Mario Lemieux era back in 1991 and 1992 when the Penguins won consecutive Stanley Cups and was surely cemented in recent weeks. As Post-Gazette reporter Dan Majors wrote Friday, the team attracted a new following of young people. Excited young people in Pittsburgh? Huge enthusiasm for a team other than the Steelers? New times in the old city.

ANOTHER TOP 10 LIST comes out and Western Pennsylvania is slighted -- thank goodness. The Pennsylvania State Police have updated their "10 Most Wanted Fugitive Poster" and all the alleged bad guys are from the eastern part of the state except one, and his last known address was Brooklyn, N.Y. The poster was prepared by the State Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit and will be disseminated across the state. The update is the first in nearly a decade and has four new names. The poster can be viewed online by clicking the tip submission link at www.psp.state.pa.us. A possible disappointment for hockey fans: While some of the suspects are from Philadelphia, no Flyers are sought for questioning.