The old saying goes that when a man knows he is to be hanged, it concentrates his mind wonderfully. The same might be said of politicians who see sliding poll numbers.
Hillary Clinton, whose lead is melting away in Iowa, has begun sharp attacks on rival Bernie Sanders for his costly spending proposals. This is a healthy development, as Sanders has mostly skated away from any plausible explanation for how he would fund his agenda.
For example, Sanders contends his single-payer, government-run health-care plan would save Americans money. That is true only if higher payroll taxes to finance it would be less than what people now pay in premiums. So what tax would be necessary to fund his program?
Clinton is pressing for details, and he should have to deliver before voters take his plan seriously.
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