Though we love The Nation—exemplified by the myriad of links we post to their site—when it comes to progressive politics in the United States, their coverage is limited to Democrats, what progressive Democrats are doing, should be doing, etc. etc.

Though we aren’t surprised that when it finally covered a Green Party candidate (in this case for South Carolina’s senatorial race) it’s because the Democratic primary winner Alvin Greene is such a party embarrassment and the GOP candidate Jim DeMint is a raging right-wing whack job, and not because Green candidate for U.S. senator Tom Clements is simply the best progressive option in the race.

But ultimately, the coverage is helpful to remind progressive South Carolinian voters that come November, one does not have to choose Scylla or Charybdis. Disappointed Democrats should not just stay home and hand over a senate seat to the Republicans and their runaway train of obstructionism. Instead some Dems see the Green option is what’s best for South Carolina. John Nichols reports: 

Several local [Democratic] party groups have invited Clements to address their events, with the Lower Richland Democrats in Columbia observing, “Many of us Democrats are dismayed at the outcome of our primary for the US Senate. But for those of us who are passionate about providing economic opportunity for working families, saving our democracy from corporate control and saving our planet from irresponsible polluters, we have a viable alternative: Tom Clements.” The Greater Columbia Central Labor Council of the South Carolina AFL-CIO has formally endorsed Clements as the candidate who “will best represent the interests of the working people of South Carolina.”

And why is that? Nichols explains:

Clements is a native Southerner who worked for thirteen years with Greenpeace International and directed the Nuclear Control Institute before taking over in 2008 as southeastern coordinator for Friends of the Earth. He was a campaign manager to former Georgia Congressman Doug Bernard, an experienced player on the international stage since his days as a leading antiproliferation campaigner and an able spokesman on issues ranging from environmental racism to global warming to the green economy. Clements is economically populist, socially progressive and antiwar. And he knows the race should be about DeMint, not the foibles of his Democratic challenger.

Clements is not the only better progressive alternative in elections in November. John L. Gray, is the Green U.S. Senate candidate squaring off against the deplorable Blue Dog Dem Blanche Lincoln and worse, GOPer John Boozman. Illinois’ LeAlan Jones is a far more issues-focused candidate of U.S. Senator than the two big party candidates (Republican Mark Kirk and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias) who have waged a bitter,  mudslinging war against each other.

+ more on Green Party alternatives to US Senate races in 2010 here

(Above, Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate of South Carolina Tom Clements)