By: E&P Staff Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of the Miami Herald on Saturday in key swing state Florida, plus the Philadelphia Inquirer and Cleveland's Plain Dealer in other battleground state, plus The Detroit Free Press and The Oregonian in Portland. He also gained the backing of New York's Daily News -- which had supported George W. Bush in 2004. The Plain Dealer had sat out that race.
McCain got the support of the Tampa Tribune and the Dallas Morning News. These papers had all backed the same party's candidates in 2004.
In E&P's exclusive running count, Obama now leads McCain in newspaper endorsements by nearly 4-1, at 71-18, including most of the majors. See several separate stories on this site and links to the latest editorials at our new blog,
The E&P PubHere are excerpts from four papers. The Dallas Morning News, in addition, called McCain a "progressive conservative" and said the times were too dangerous to hand over to a Democratic president and Congress.
The Las Cruces (N.M.) Sun-News, Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic and Naples (Fla.) Daily-News also endorsed Obama today -- making that at least 14 papers that backed Bush in 2004 to now support the Democrat. McCain has picked up no switches.
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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
The need for a fresh start in America has grown markedly in the two years of this presidential campaign, and became imperative as the crippled financial system punishes workers, families and retirees in the country.
The U.S. is in want of leadership that repairs a damaged economy, restores faith in government as an engine for the common good and returns competence to the White House after the spectacular failures of the Bush administration.
Barack Obama holds the greater promise of accomplishing the mission than does John McCain. The Daily News endorses the 47-year-old Democrat, the first black American to win a major party nomination, for President.
MIAMI HERALD
Much has been made of Sen. Obama's relative inexperience, particularly in foreign policy. His r?sum? is thin, but he surrounds himself with experienced advisors -- as evidenced in his choice of Sen. Joe Biden to be vice president -- and with people who offer differing points of view. His style is to build consensus and seek workable, pragmatic solutions -- a refreshing change from the last eight years.
Because of the current administration's incompetence, arrogance -- or both -- American prestige abroad has never been as low. The effusive response from audiences during Sen. Obama's recent tour of Europe suggests he could help restore our lost influence. Clearly, traditional U.S. allies are more than ready to work with an American president who replaces unilateral policies and preemptive wars with vigorous diplomacy on behalf of common interests.....
[T]he way the two candidates responded to the economic meltdown offers a lesson in contrasting styles of leadership. Both have put forth a series of worthwhile policy options, but where Sen. Obama was calm, Sen. McCain was frantic. He first put his campaign ''on hold'' and suggested he would cancel the first debate, and then suddenly decided to take part even as the first bailout deal cratered. He said the fundamentals of the economy were strong, then a few days later vowed to ''name the names'' of those responsible for the financial crisis.
In other elections, voters have complained of having to make a choice between two bad candidates. That is not the case this time. The nation is fortunate to have good candidates and a clear choice. Sen. Obama represents the best chance for America to make a clean break with the culture wars and failed policies of the past, and begin to restore the hope and promise of America as the world's greatest democracy.
TAMPA TRIBUNE
The direction of the nation is at stake in this election.
Hard economic times, a disappointing Republican administration and the seductive promises of a master orator are pushing America toward a European-style social democracy.
If you don't want that to happen, vote for Republican Sen. John McCain....
Obama's vision of hope shines like a rainbow, appealing but just out of reach. McCain's call to freedom and responsibility is less exciting, but you know it works.
The Tribune encourages voters to vote what they believe, not what they wish were true. The nation needs a stable leader in these unpredictable times.
For president, the Tribune endorses Sen. John McCain.
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
There are those who say this election should not be a referendum on the incumbent. But the presidency of George W. Bush colors everything about America today. His mistakes must not be repeated.
Both major candidates are trying to avoid association with Bush's failed policies. But only one does so successfully. On every issue important to America, Barack Obama offers a plan that would pull this nation from the precipice built by bad Bush decisions. The Inquirer endorses BARACK OBAMA for president.
While John McCain also promises "change," it's hard to believe that's possible from someone who, by his own admission, has voted with Bush 90 percent of the time. On key issues such as campaign finance, pork-barrel spending, and humane interrogation of terrorism suspects, McCain has indeed been a "maverick." But mostly, he and Bush have been on the same page.
More troubling was McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. This blatant overture to women voters and evangelical Christians who share her views on abortion backfired when Palin in interviews proved she is not prepared to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Over the past four months, this Editorial Board has compared the candidates' positions. In almost every case, Obama has a superior proposal for this nation.
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