By: Arizona?s largest newspaper has endorsed Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Barack Obama of Illinois in the presidential primary race.
In editorials posted early Sunday on its Web site, the editorial board of The Arizona Republic said it chose Obama over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic race and that McCain was ?the class of the GOP contenders.?
Arizona?s presidential primary is Feb. 5.
While other Republican candidates each may be stronger than McCain in some attributes, he ?presents the Republicans with their best opportunity to retain the White House in November,? the editorial endorsing McCain said. ?But he offers them more than just a chance at victory. He gives his party integrity. And principle. They cannot improve on such attributes. And they should not try.?
On the Democratic side, Obama and Clinton have similar records and political philosophies about the role of government and both are intelligent and competent, the newspaper stated.
However, Clinton was a ?polarizing figure? who was part of a gridlocked system, while Obama?s promise to unify was convincing, the Obama endorsement editorial stated.
?Obama?s call for Americans to believe in their power to change things is Kennedy-esque in its idealism. But it is also solidly rooted in an understanding of how badly the nation needs to remember its true strengths.?
The Republic said the decision on the Democratic side amounted to a choice between Obama and Clinton because the third major candidate, John Edwards, ?doesn?t measure up.?
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