Clinton vs. Obama: We're all friends here, right?

The Associated Press

Is it time to start thinking about a joint ticket?

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Clinton vs. Obama: We're all friends here, right?

For one evening, at least, the knives weren't out. Yes, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton critiqued each other's records during Thursday's debate in Los Angeles, but the angry rhetoric of their recent campaign clashes had little to be seen.

So what do we know about the two candidates that we didn't before? And could one of them play vice president to the other?

Ben likes: What I think I know

Scott Johnson/Powerline

The final question asked the candidates whether they would share the ticket with the other. Before Obama announced his candidacy, I thought Clinton-Obama would be the Democratic ticket. Now it's hard for me to imagine why Obama would step down from the messianic station he occupies in the imagination of his Democratic followers in order to serve as vice president.

Most dispiriting to me is the common ground John McCain would find with Clinton and Obama -- I can hear it now! -- on every issue except national security. Barring events which raise national security issues in the consciousness of the voters, either Clinton or Obama will crush McCain.

Joel likes: Obama-Clinton? Clinton-Obama?

John Nichols/The Nation

For the first time since this campaign began, it was possible to imagine these two contenders as running-mates.

Clinton came close to saying as much during a discussion about whether her proposal to mandate universal health care coverage or Obama's proposal to expand access might be preferable, the senator from New York said of the senator from Illinois, "We share a lot of the same values… we are trying to work our way through to get to where we need to be and that is to have a united Democratic party…"

But neither Clinton or Obama is running for vice president just yet. Despite one warm and fuzzy debate, don't think that this race has gone "soft."