After all, it's the presidency

Anyone who has lost faith in the American political process should be buoyed by what's happening in these presidential primaries.

It's a long way to November, but there's still some intrigue to hold our interest. And some encouraging signs that, just maybe, there are better days ahead.

In particular, the battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is a sizzling matchup that could go either way and might not be decided before the Democratic National Convention convenes in Denver Aug. 25-28. Forgive a sporting analogy, but this looks like a Frazier-Ali matchup that goes 15 pulsating rounds. And the Dems seem confident they can't lose no matter who's standing at the end.

Meanwhile, Mitt Romney's decision Thursday to drop out of the Republican race pretty much seals the nomination for John McCain. There wasn't a whole lot of suspense left on the GOP side after McCain's performance on Super Tuesday, but Romney and Mike Huckabee deserve credit for staging game campaigns that stirred up the Republicans. And we still want to hear what they have to say as McCain polishes his restored bid for the presidency at the GOP Convention Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul.

No matter your stripe -- Republican, Democrat or Independent -- it's encouraging to see the manner in which Americans have been responding to these races. Our cynicism about the presidency and Capitol Hill's tired partisan politics has given way to the promise of a new beginning.

And this welcome sight: Young people are participating. As someone who voted in the 1998 Minnesota election for governor, I can remind you in two words how important the youth vote might be come November: Jesse Ventura.

The reassuring news is, there's not a single former professional wrestler among the remaining presidential hopefuls. Just a slimmed down field that has sparked our interest and commands our attention the rest of the way.

Jim