Open Primaries, Open Debate

The possibility that the race for the Democratic presidential nomination will actually remain in question long enough to force a discussion of candidates’ visions and policies is generating great excitement in the progressive community— and should be doing so among Democrats at large.

Katrina vanden Heuvel writes in her Editor's Cut blog at the Nation:

"Throw polls and pundits out the window." The race
for the Democratic presidential nomination is now
wide open--and candidates will be tested rather than
crowned by the media… And that gives us time to
push from outside to define and sharpen candidates'
stance on issues we care about as progressives.
From a sane and humane immigration policy as we
go to Nevada, a more populist jobs and economics
program as we head into recession, and a sharper
end-the-war strategy to stop the "strategic drift."