Representatives of the Unity '08 group are meeting in Norman, Oklahoma to address what they perceive to be a growing threat of partisanship to progress on vital issues. Public Campaign's President, Nick Nyhart, wrote this piece for yesterday's Oklahoman suggesting that a greater divide exists beyond partisanship: candidates with access to money and candidates without.

The flow of wealth between a small group of Americans and small group of candidates who appeal to them shuts the majority of Americans out. Rather than a problem of rigid party line differences, so much of the disaffection of Americans towards politics and politicians can be traced back to a wealth line.

Big money is driving up the costs of campaigning and preventing candidates who are strong on brains, people skills, independence and vision — but who don't have access to deep pockets — from running for and winning office. Endless fundraising steals the focus of our leaders, requiring that they spend less time leading the nation to solutions that work for all Americans, regardless of their ability to make a political donation.

Nyhart makes the case for supporting the Fair Elections Now Act in the Senate, and further Clean and Fair Elections efforts that will erase the wealth advantage and give candidates without access to big money a chance to be competitive for office.