This is getting entertaining. . .
With Hillary firmly in the race after her Texas and Ohio victories, the Dems are setting about forming that circular firing squad for which they're famous.
Evidence comes from this morning's Today show. First, goodbye Obambi, hello Rambo-ama. Then, DNC Chairman Howard Dean on the hot seat, snapping at David Gregory, calling his suggestion that a nominee decided by party elites would appear undemocratic "complete nonsense."
Andrea Mitchell's segment on the primary race included clips of Obama speaking with reporters on his campaign plane. He made clear his intention to go after Hillary's record and her claim to be a known commodity.
BARACK OBAMA: There's no doubt that Senator Clinton went very negative over the last week. And the "kitchen sink" strategy I'm sure had some impact. She's made the argument that she's thoroughly vetted, in contrast to me. I think it's important to examine that argument.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Within hours, his advisers demanded that the Clintons release their tax returns, something they claim they'll do by April 15th. Clinton's team plans an equally tough strategy, similar to what worked in Texas and Ohio, attacking Obama as not ready to be Commander-in-Chief [cut to brief clip of 3 AM phone ad], a charge he is challenging.
Back to Obama-on-the-plane.
OBAMA: One of the things that I hope people start asking is, what exactly is this foreign experience that she's claiming?
Release the hounds!
A bit later, DNC Chairman Howard Dean had an at-times testy conversation with NBC's David Gregory, highlighted by this exchange.
DAVID GREGORY: Governor, are you worried at this point about the perception for the Democratic party? You've got Florida, Michigan whose delegates may be decided by the state party, the elite of the party, the insiders of the party, and it could come down in this nomination fight to the super-delegates, also the elite and the insiders of the party, deciding this. Is this democracy in the Democratic party?
HOWARD DEAN: David, this argument you're making is complete nonsense. There are a set of rules that everybody knew about when we started this out.
Testy, testy! Dean went on to claim he'd be "happy" even if the super-delegates were to decide the nominee, just so long as the rules are followed.
Rig-h-h-t. If Obama goes to the convention with an elected-delegate lead, but Hillary walks away with the nomination thanks to the super-delegates, Dean could be presiding over a fractured Dem party that would make the 1968 convention look like a stroll in [Grant] Park.
