Do Hillary and Obama Need to Tear Each Other Apart?

MISSED THE DEBATE. I didn't see the Democratic debate tonight. Too many senior seminar papers that had to be read by tomorrow.

But I can see a problem.

THE MISSING FIREWORKS: Over at Salon, the headline on Tim Grieve's debate article was "front-runners make nice." But shouldn't Clinton and Obama make nice. Clinton and Obama largely agree on most things. They have a lot of reasons to see the other as talented politicians. Likewise, whichever one wins, they are going to expect a lot of help from the other.

BUT WHY GO NUCLEAR? There's no intra-party feud to go nuclear about. Hillary doesnt' represent a moribund establishment protecting its turf. Obama is not an irresponsible challenger representing a newly ascendant reformist wing. Just as the 1980's neo-liberal challenge to liberal Democracy, so is the current liberal counter-attack against neo-liberals like Joe Lieberman types.

The Democratic contest will come down to who can seem to have gone against their personal style the best. Obama soars but could stand to be more grounded. Hillary is grounded but needs to do a better job of soaring. I'm on the side of being grounded but I don't see any reason why Hillary and Obama can't campaign on their own positive qualities and leave the slashing and burning until the general election campaign.