Debate advice to Obama: work the counterpunch

It's safe to assume that this week's Democratic debate will not be a love-in. Hillary Clinton has to go on the offensive. She's going to be hurling the sucker punches, jabs, right crosses, body blows and left hooks. It is likely she will score some. The key for Obama is to stay poised, play smart defense, and work the counterpunch. He shouldn't be dismissive, nasty or smug. But he does have to counterpunch sharply in order to nullify her onslaught. There was evidence that he can do this, as seen a couple debates ago when Clinton went after him on his ties to the Chicago slumlord. He launched an effective jab back at her, tagging Clinton as the corporate lackey for Walmart. He better have an arsenal of lines like this at his disposal tonight. He'll also need to trot out his policy talking points to show substance and negate the "all hat, no cattle" allegations. By no means should he initiate attacks, but he damn well better be willing to retaliate. When Clinton goes over the top, he can always sit back, throw up his hands, and say, see, I told you she's say anything to get elected...is this the kind of politics you want? The danger for Clinton is that she might be leading herself into a trap, a dramatic spotlight moment: a "have you no shame, Mrs. Clinton" epiphany.