University of Iowa Newspaper Endorses McCain, Obama

By: Via UWIRE The Daily Iowan Friday endorsed Barack Obama and John McCain for the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, becoming the second student-run newspaper in the state to endorse that pair.

"Obama?s commanding oratorical abilities should not distract voters from his policy proposals, objectives that outline a return of ?united? to the United States,? the Daily Iowan editorial board wrote in their endorsement of the Democratic candidate. "We believe his judgment and ideas are the best fit, not just for a party but for a people."

Obama has actively courted the student vote throughout the campaign ? encouraging students to caucus in early January despite the fact that many universities will still be in the middle of winter break.

The University of Iowa newspaper cited Obama?s stance against the Iraq war, his plan for broadening health insurance and his message about curbing global warming as reasons to support the Illinois Senator. Three other Democratic candidates ? Chris Dodd, Joe Biden and John Edwards ? were lauded for aspects of their campaign in the editorial. One-time frontrunner Hillary Clinton was not mentioned.

In the past two weeks, the Daily Iowan had run guest columns from three different Democratic candidates ? Obama, Edwards and Biden.

Arizona Sen. John McCain got the Daily Iowan?s nod on the Republican side.

"McCain has remained loyal to his message; after ignoring the horse race and celebrity status some candidates have earned, it?s clear that McCain?s vision for America stands above those offered by his Republican counterparts," wrote the DI editorial board.

In the editorial, McCain?s principled stance on the Iraq war is commended, and the Daily Iowan sees him as the Republican most likely to offer intelligent policies on immigration, global warming and civil liberties.

"Other Republican candidates offer plans that too closely mirror the Bush administration?s broken strategy,? they wrote. ?McCain, relying on principles instead of partisan politics, is daring enough to voice his individual opinion, an essential presidential trait.?

Among the other Republican candidates, the Daily Iowan did not embrace one popular choice on college campuses, Ron Paul, saying that his ?radical domestic policies create more problems than they solve.?

Both Obama and McCain had captured the endorsement of the Iowa State Daily, the college newspaper at Iowa State University, earlier this month.

More UWIRE can be read here.