It’s time for Barack Obama to sharpen his campaign. This week’s acrimonious debate between the top three Democratic contenders revealed that the Clintons are determined to assault Obama’s credibility in an attempt to curtail his momentum. Obama defended himself ably in Monday’s CNN debate but he is still not dealing a death-blow to Hillary’s campaign.

Thus far, Obama’s most stunning rise in the polls came in the last months of 2007. Following Hillary’s dismal performance in the Nevada debate where she flip-flopped on granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, her poll ratings were in a downward spiral. Obama was brilliant in reducing her standing: he swept to victory in Iowa and was on his way to capturing the nomination. Yet, since the New Hampshire primaries he strayed from the strategy which was working well.

Obama is demonstrating a curious hesitation: he is caught between wanting to create a new kind of politics which is lofty and high minded and yet having to deal with the Clintons who are at their best when they are flailing in the gutter.

Obama must begin by making sharp distinctions. First, he cannot be both bad cop and good cop. He needs to appoint a bad cop to be incessantly on the attack against Hillary. This individual must be fiery, sharp, nimble and of high standing among Democrats. Hillary has Bill to play this role in her campaign. Bill had Carville during his heyday. Who does Obama have?

Obama can then focus on his message to the American people. He must realize he cannot be both the quarterback and the defensive lineman at the same time. In the last two weeks the Clintons have been effective in getting Obama to be entangled in two roles.

The second sharp distinction which Obama must make is that by accepting to attack the Clintons, this does not mean that he is forsaking his visionary role as one who will unite the nation. He will represent a new kind of politics by appealing to Republicans and Independents—and by leading with integrity and sincerity. Yet, he can only do so once he demonstrates that he is also tough enough to crush the Clinton machine. The nation is looking to him to clean the Democratic Party from the corrosive Clinton influence. Destroying their power base is not tantamount to violating his principles; it is the first step towards a new politics.

If Junior wants to be head of the household, he has to kick Daddy out. It won’t be pretty no matter how sweetly he delivers an eviction notice.

Obama’s bad cop needs to emphasize the following:

* Hillary has flip-flopped on almost every position she has adopted for thirty-five years.

* Hillary never gives a straight answer.

* Hillary and Bill have a long history of scandal—both private and public which is repugnant to the American people.

* Hillary and Bill will return America to the acrimonious battles of the 1990’s.

* Hillary is not a friend to women for she has systematically persecuted women who tried to stand up to Bill Clinton: she has supported her husband in his adultery, harassment and rape. She has intimidated women who have sought justice. She is a fraud on women’s issues.

* Hillary’s record as first lady remains shrouded in secrecy. Are there more scandals she is hiding?

* Hillary has little foreign policy experience.

* Hillary’s campaign should be tagged as the Clinton-Bush campaign to highlight that in essence she has endorsed Bush’s foreign policy but has pretended not to do so.

* Hillary is part of the establishment: she is yesterday; Obama is the future.

These are some of the themes which were effective in Obama’s stunning rise prior to Iowa. Also, Obama needs to refresh some of the aspects of his campaign which were working to his advantage:

* Oprah was an outstanding attraction and should return to every city Obama campaigns in. Contrary to the postings on Oprah’s web site, she is a tremendous asset to him. Oprah need not be fooled by the false pressure on her: her support for Obama can make the difference—especially in giving his campaign the larger-than life aura it had in December. In order to curtail the charge that Oprah is serving her race above her gender, Obama should state that Oprah will be given a high profile on women’s issues in his administration. Hence, Oprah’s support of Obama can be presented as best for both her race and her gender.

* Obama must be seen often with Michelle and the children by his side. His picturesque family is an asset Hillary does not have. He should not imitate Bill and Hillary by having Michelle campaign separately from him. They should be in unison—underscoring the real beauty and harmony of their marriage. Americans love a real romance in the White House—and long for a loving, young family to admire.

* Obama needs to appeal to Hispanics by incorporating a few high-profile Hispanics by his side. Hispanics do not see much advantage to endorsing him. Obama needs to visibly demonstrate that African Americans and Hispanics can work as one within the Democratic Party. For the Hispanic community, visible proof of this is more important than a few Spanish phrases in a commercial.

* He needs also to crush Hillary’s support among older people. Obama has entirely neglected those above 65 in the same way that Hillary previously neglected the youth. Obama needs to convey the message that change does not mean callousness or neglect of America’s elders. He should tap into the African American tradition of great respect and reverence for elders—especially elder women—in order to peel away support from Hillary’s most devoted constituency.

* To highlight his message of change, Obama needs to show that he can first change the Democratic Party by creating a coalition which stands by his side.

Obama has demonstrated he is a formidable politician. He need only resolve his inner turmoil, appoint an effective bad cop and refresh his winning message in order to bury the Clintons once and for all. Bold action is the order of the day.

-Grace Vuoto is the executive director of the Edmund Burke Institute for American Renewal. The opinions expressed are her own.