The Democratic nomination fight is starting to get interesting

The drama of the Republican presidential race has overwhelmed interest in the Democratic contest. So has the virtual certainty that Hillary Clinton will be the nominee.

Yet there are good reasons to pay attention.

Bernie Sanders has suddenly decided to take the gloves off against Clinton. The Vermont senator's assertion that the former secretary of state is unqualified to be president of the United States came after aNew York Times story in which many Sanders supporters complained about his reluctance to go negative against Clinton earlier in the campaign.

"If Clinton had lost Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, it would have been a devastating series of defeats that would have called into question her entire campaign," said Sanders adviser Tad Devine, stating the obvious.

Sanders' own wife said he wasn't on the campaign trail enough early on. She noted how much time he spent tending to Senate business instead, saying, "It's something that gives you pause."