For better or for worse, we have reached a tipping point in the Democratic primary race. While the GOP has raged into ever-darker territory from the very beginning, the liberals in the race have kept their cool and made gentle promises to play nice. But as Sanders has become more of a real threat and less of a pesky distraction to Secretary Clinton, tensions have grown, reaching a boiling point.

Now, the gauntlet has been thrown down as Bernie Sanders reacted to comments made by Secretary Clinton about whether or not Sanders was ready to be president. While Clinton took careful political care not to outright say that she felt Sanders was unqualified for the presidency, the implication was just that.

During Sanders’ victory rally after a strong Wisconsin win on Tuesday night, Sanders took the implicit and made it explicit, proclaiming that he felt Clinton was not qualified to be president based on several corrupt decisions and policy stances, including her support for the US-Panamanian trade agreement which enabled much of the corruption revealed this week in the Panama papers.

“Secretary Clinton appears to be getting a little bit nervous. And she has been saying lately that she thinks that I am ‘not qualified’ to be president. Well, let me, let me just say in response to Secretary Clinton: I don’t believe that she is qualified, if she is, through her super PAC, taking tens of millions of dollars in special interest funds. I don’t think that you are qualified if you get $15 million from Wall Street through your super PAC.”

Any chance of Sanders claiming a civil race is now completely gone and the gloves are most definitely off on both sides of the Democratic race. While some may be upset that the race has gone this way, it was absolutely to be expected. This is a race for the soul of the Democratic party, and we all know that a race for something so important to so many was bound to get a little murky.

Watch.

Sydney Robinson is a political writer for the Ring of Fire Network. She has also appeared in political news videos for Ring of Fire. Sydney has a degree in English Literature from the University of West Florida, and has an active interest in politics, social justice, and environmental issues. She would love to hear from you on Twitter @SydneyMkay or via email at srobinson@ringoffireradio.com