“What’s particularly saddening is the way many 
Obama supporters seem happy with the application of ‘Clinton rules’ — the term a number of observers use for the way pundits and some news organizations treat any action or statement by the Clintons, no matter how innocuous, as proof of evil intent.
“. . . For now, Clinton rules are working in Mr. Obama’s favor. But his supporters should not take comfort in that fact.
“For one thing, Mrs. Clinton may yet be the nominee — and if Obama supporters care about anything beyond hero worship, they should want to see her win in November.
“For another, if history is any guide, if Mr. Obama wins the nomination, he will quickly find himself being subjected to Clinton rules. Democrats always do.”
“Hate Springs Eternal,” Feb. 11, 2008
There’s something worse than losing the nomination: Unity and who the real opponents are should be a prominent part of the stump speech of both Democratic candidates. Obama, whose support is trending toward, as Krugman notes, a cult of personality — a cult fueled heavily by raw emotion — should be especially assertive in speaking up for unity, whatever the outcome of the primaries.
Because, if disillusion and resentment sink Democratic fortunes in November, the loss won’t be just Clinton’s, Obama’s or the Democratic Party’s. The loss will be the whole nation’s.
Given his recent columns, it’s no surprise to see this coming from Krugman.
The idea of a Democratic division is one that just doesn’t play out in polling data, which shows supporters of both candidates very satisfied with the other.
“…if disillusion and resentment sink Democratic fortunes in November…†I worry about that, a lot! And I think Obama’s youthful supporters are the ones most likely to throw in the towel if Hillary is the nominee. The rest of us older folks have been more deeply immersed in the everyday reality of mess George Bush and his cronies have created, and we’ll suck it up and turn out in unprecedented numbers. We know who the opposition is! I just worry about the younger people, especially the college students. Hopefully, Obama will understand his obligation should he come up short. I believe he will.