It was this group that redefined American politics in the 1980s, and this group that will come to the fore during the generalelection, as ordinary people take more interest in politics.
Thus emboldened, Mr Prodi's friends reckoned that, if a wide-ranging centre-left alliance once again emerges before the next generalelection, due early in 2001, its candidate for prime minister should be chosen in American-style primaries.