Turning Up the Heat

At last week's debate, and for most of the last year, the top three Democrats suppressed their natural competitive feelings for the greater family good. Perhaps at times they even repressed the resentment that simmered among them—the nasty feeling that the others were standing in the way of their rightful position as the presidential nominee. Of course, they may have simply been in denial, refusing to admit their obvious afflictions as ambitious politicians.

It was compelling to watch all those psychological problems burst into the open on Monday night, just days before the South Carolina primary. Clinton and Obama's visceral dislike for each other was obvious, while Edwards stayed cordial—but fought for equal time. For the record, Obama threw the first punch about Clinton copying him on tax rebates. "That wasn't the original focus of her plan," he said. "I think recently she has caught up with what I had originally said, which is we've got to get … tax cuts into the pockets of hard-working Americans right away."

That was only a glancing blow compared with the right hook he landed a little later on both Clinton and John Edwards on the issue trade. "It is absolutely true that NAFTA was a mistake," he said. "I know that Hillary … just last year said this was a boon to the economy. I think it has been devastating, because our trade agreements did not have labor standards and environmental standards that would assure that workers in the U.S. were getting a square deal." Then he turned on Edwards for his vote for permanent trade relations with China.

This marks a new phase in Obama's campaign: the steel cage fight that his aides had long scorned. His fellow candidates were only too happy to jump into the cage with him.

Clinton accused Obama of being a lawyer "representing your contributor, [Antoin] Rezko, in his slum landlord business in inner-city Chicago." (Chicago businessman Rezko was indicted last fall on federal charges of influence peddling.) Obama said that, as an associate in a local law firm, he performed several hours of legal work in involving Rezko's housing developments. Last weekend Obama returned more than $40,000 in political contributions that had been linked to Rezko. Rezko's attorney has said Rezko is innocent and intends to fight all charges.  Edwards accused them both of engaging in "squabbling." Clinton and Edwards both swung at Obama for his votes on credit card interest rates, his scores of "present" votes in the Illinois legislature, and his health-care proposals. "Well, you know, Senator Obama, it is very difficult having a straight-up debate with you," said Clinton, "because you never take responsibility for any vote, and that has been a pattern."

Obama likes to say that voters need less heat in Washington and more light. If there was any light from Monday's debate it came in a simple contrast between how Clinton and Obama spoke about Republicans. Clinton insisted she was the best candidate to withstand Republican attacks in the general election. Obama insisted he was the best candidate to attract Republicans in the general election.