Last night featured a Democratic debate that took place in Flint, Michigan, the town that is currently at the center of the crisis about lead in the water and for long has been emblematic of the decay of America’s cities and its manufacturing base. I could not watch it but this report from The Guardian summarizes what happened and describes it as a ‘fierce debate’, with sharp exchanges between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton over actual issues but with no personal attacks or mudslinging. In short, the opposite of what happens in Republican debates. Tessa Stuart provides some of the choice quotes.

Yesterday Sanders added another win in the Maine closed caucuses while Marco Rubio won Puerto Rico’s open primary. This must have been a relief for Rubio in his efforts to shake off his loser image following his disastrous showing on Saturday but since he had been the only one who had even campaigned in that territory, that takes the shine off his victory somewhat.

Tomorrow for Republicans there will be an open primary in Mississippi, two closed primaries in Michigan and Idaho, and a closed caucus in Hawaii, while for Democrats there are open primaries in Michigan and Mississippi.

A word about what ‘open’ contests mean. There are two kinds. The more limited ones allow registered members of the party and independents to vote while the more expansive one allows even registered members of other parties to vote.