Obama Endorsed by Philadelphia Inquirer

[ariesgem]

Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican presidential hopeful John McCain won endorsements from the Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board.

The backing, in editorials posted on the newspaper's Web site, may help Obama after Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Ed Rendell endorsed New York Senator Hillary Clinton last week. Arizona Senator McCain is riding a wave of momentum after winning the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries.

Pennsylvania, which has 181 delegates available in the Democratic race and 74 for Republicans, will hold its primary on April 22.

Obama ``has shown on the campaign trail that he offers more than just pretty words,'' the Inquirer said. ``In debates and speeches, he has provided details of a White House program that, with adjustments, could produce the outcomes this nation needs.''

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards's ``populist style might have made him a formidable candidate in any other presidential election,'' the newspaper said. ``But not this one.''

While Hillary Clinton, 61, wife of former President Bill Clinton, would make history as the first woman to become president, just as Obama would be the first black president, her high negative ratings in polls ``suggest she could be a catalyst for division when the nation longs for unity,'' the newspaper said.

``In an election where change is the operative word, would the former first lady represent that?'' the Inquirer said. ``After two Bush presidencies, many Americans don't see change in a Clinton dynasty.''

Past Partisanship

Obama, 46, is the ``best Democrat to lead this nation past the nasty, partisan, Washington-as-usual politics,'' the Inquirer said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a5LrZyXYQQWY&refer=home

[FrenchieCat]

1. These Newspaper endorsements have gone to Obama by a wide margin

thus far.

[dkf]

2. "Obama has shown on the campaign trail that he offers more than just pretty words,"

the Inquirer said. ``In debates and speeches, he has provided details of a White House program that, with adjustments, could produce the outcomes this nation needs.''

Yup.