This newspaper has advocated since at least 2007 for presidential primaries in Maine.

In January 2008, just after New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary placed the Granite State in the global spotlight and pumped millions of dollars into its economy, we wrote:

“Political leaders intent on attracting new revenue sources and promoting Maine’s ‘quality of place’ would do well to press Democratic and Republican party committees to switch from this state’s largely ignored caucus system to a presidential preference process that nudges Maine into New Hampshire’s limelight.

“Given (a University of New Hampshire) study’s calculation that presidential candidates’ focus on New Hampshire generated $33 million during the year leading up to the 2000 primary, a piggybacked Maine preference contest assuredly would allow this state to tap those rich economic and public-relations veins.”

In January of this year, we reiterated our argument:

“Among other benefits, a presidential primary would open the nomination process to more voters, entice candidates to visit the state and pump barrels of out-of-state money into the Maine economy. … By allowing easier access to the significant portion of Maine’s electorate that proudly and fiercely asserts its independence, a primary would better reflect more Mainers’ presidential preferences. If that, in turn, spurs the major political parties to nominate candidates who appeal to the average American rather than to partisan extremists, so much the better.”

On Monday, legislators pawed through Maine Senate President Kevin Raye proposed legislation, LD 1882, that’s remarkably similar to what we suggested four years ago.

Obviously, we think LD 1882 should pass. Democrats’ concerns about the proposal come off as nitpicking and obfuscation, politically motivated contrarianism designed to deny Raye positive fodder for his congressional campaign or gain traction for future State House horse-trading.

To those who question the timing, we ask: If not now, when? With the flaws in the caucus system fresh in Mainers’ memories, this seems a perfect time to act.

To those who question the cost, we offer this simple solution: Ask the Maine Democratic and Republican parties to foot the bill for a primary. There’s certainly no shortage of money in campaign coffers to cover the cost of opening Maine’s presidential nomination process to the full electorate.

LD 1882 isn’t about fixing the mess that Charlie Webster made of the 2012 GOP caucuses. It’s about letting more Mainers take part in a democratic process that leads to the nomination of presidential candidates.

A primary would open the nomination system to all Mainers instead of reserving it as a perk for party loyalists. It’s in keeping with long-held democratic — and Democratic Party — principles that affirm fair and broad access to the political process via the voting booth.

Furthermore, as Raye said Monday, it would increase “the likelihood of Maine being considered relevant in the process.”

Passing LD 1882 would represent a victory for all Maine voters, which is why Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature should set aside their end-of-the-session quibbling and lay the groundwork for a presidential primary in 2016.

letters@timesrecord.com