That can be bestowed only in clean elections, preceded by fair campaigns.

ECONOMIST: Drawing a line in Peru

But virtually every campaign-finance decision involving free speech, like Monday's ruling against the Arizona Clean Elections Act, has come down to a 5-4 vote along ideological lines.

WSJ: High Court's Term Shows Kennedy's Sway

The BBC's correspondent in Mexico city says these have probably been the first really clean elections in Mexico's history, thanks to reforms carried out under President Zedillo.

BBC: End of an era for Mexico

But to give them that power, we need to do more than just clean up our elections.

CNN: Edwards' October 13, 2007, speech on restoring democracy

Another hopeful sign was that, in a part of the world where respect for the law is skimpy, the elections themselves were pretty clean.

ECONOMIST: Montenegro and Kosovo

"The elections will be fair and free and clean and exemplary, " Mr Bashir told a gathering in northern Sudan.

BBC: Sudan President Bashir insists elections will be fair

For now, the Republicans are presenting their clean sweep as an omen of what will happen in next year's elections.

ECONOMIST: Why are these Republicans smiling?

Environmental issues such as clean air and water are major concerns of voters as this year's elections approach, according to a poll conducted for the League of Conservation Voters.

CNN: Environment is crucial issue for voters, poll shows