The Santa Fe New Mexican: Neither he nor John McCain alone can overcome the many challenges facing our next president – but already he has surrounded himself with people we can trust to help him right today’s dangerously tossed ship of state. (Oct. 4)
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Despite the recent nastiness of his campaign. Sen. McCain is essentially a good man, but he is yesterday’s man. His campaign takes its core text from the “Wizard of Oz”: Don’t mind the man behind the curtain. That man is George Bush, the failed magician who cannot be spoken of lest the American people be reminded of what he has wrought and what party he belongs to.To make their trick work, Mr. McCain and his running mate, Gov. Palin, trade heavily on being mavericks — too heavily to be believed. (Oct. 12)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: These times demand steady, focused leadership. Leadership that takes America far from the policies that have created so much fear. Leadership that says it’s OK to hope, because hope properly directed yields results. Barack Obama is ready to provide that leadership. (Oct. 17)
The Denver Post: Republicans love to mock Obama’s history as a community organizer. But here was a man with no money to offer, no patronage to dispense, no way to punish his opponents. All he could do was to work with people from all walks of life, liberals and conservatives, business people and the unemployed, and bring them together in common cause for a better community. Could there really be better preparation to reunite a worried and divided America to again pursue our “more perfect union”? (Oct. 17)
The Des Moines (Iowa) Register: Neither Obama nor McCain is an expert on the economy. But Obama appropriately places emphasis on strengthening the middle class. And as a state senator in Illinois, in the U.S. Senate and through the rigors of the campaign, he has shown a willingness to seek others’ advice, listen and strive for consensus – crucial characteristics in troubled times. (Oct. 25)
The Times-Picayune (La.): The image of the United States abroad has suffered, largely as a result of the war in Iraq. Still, there is a huge reservoir of good will toward this country. The world looks on in awe as America, which believes that humble circumstances, class and race should never trump intelligence and hard work, considers the possible election of an African-American man as president. We believe that Barack Obama could help restore our reputation as a land of opportunity. But that benefit is dwarfed by a larger potential that we think an Obama presidency could achieve: Seizing the chance for America to lead and, at a time of crisis and transformation, be a global pioneer. (Oct. 26)
The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer: In an era that begs for a return to the standards of decency and respect for the rule of law that made America great, Obama offers thoughtful proposals for a rational way to respond to the nation’s needs. The Observer enthusiastically endorses Barack Obama for president. (Oct. 27)
The Houston Chronicle: After carefully observing the Democratic and Republican nominees in drawn-out primary struggles as well as in the general campaign, including three debates, the Chronicle strongly believes that the ticket of Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden offers the best choice to lead the United States on a new course into the second decade of the 21st century. (Oct. 18)
The Orlando Sentinel: When we enthusiastically endorsed Mr. McCain before Florida’s Republican primary in January, we pointed to his maverick’s record as a four-term U.S. senator representing Arizona who put principle over party. We lauded his long battle against irresponsible budgeting in Washington, D.C. We praised him for sponsoring, at great political risk, a comprehensive immigration-reform plan. We’re still wondering what happened to that candidate we endorsed in January.(Oct. 29)
The (N.C.) News and Observer: There is a crisis of spirit, and Barack Obama knows it. He has spoken to it with a call for change. His vision is not obscure, and not out of reach. And there is meaning in his words, from his pledge to realize universal health care to his promise to get the United States out of the mire of Iraq honorably, to his plan to restore economic stability and opportunity. His would be a government of thought before deed and of strength given by the people, not just exercised from above. (Oct. 19)
The Chicago Tribune: The change that Obama talks about so much is not simply a change in this policy or that one. It is not fundamentally about lobbyists or Washington insiders. Obama envisions a change in the way we deal with one another in politics and government. His opponents may say this is empty, abstract rhetoric. In fact, it is hard to imagine how we are going to deal with the grave domestic and foreign crises we face without an end to the savagery and a return to civility in politics. (Oct 17
)Detroit Free Press: Despite his relatively short time in public office, Obama, 47, has over the course of the general election campaign steadily articulated a progressive, pragmatic vision for this country, keyed to opportunities for the middle class, and demonstrated time and again that his approach to things is grounded in deliberation and reflection. He’s a man clearly open to ideas and willing to search for the right answer to a problem rather than pursuing the expedient one. (Oct 18)
The Los Angeles Times: Our nation has never before had a candidate like Obama, a man born in the 1960s, of black African and white heritage, raised and educated abroad as well as in the United States, and bringing with him a personal narrative that encompasses much of the American story but that, until now, has been reflected in little of its elected leadership. The excitement of Obama’s early campaign was amplified by that newness. But as the presidential race draws to its conclusion, it is Obama’s character and temperament that come to the fore. It is his steadiness. His maturity. (Oct. 19)
The Miami Herald: 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. (Oct. 18)
The Boston Globe: The nation needs a chief executive who has the temperament and the nerves to shepherd Americans through what promises to be a grueling period – and who has the vision to restore this country to its place of leadership in the world. Such a leader is at hand. With great enthusiasm, the Globe endorses Senator Barack Obama for president. The charismatic Democrat from Illinois has the ability to channel Americans’ hopes and rally the public together, at a time when the winds are picking up and the clouds keep on darkening. (Oct. 13)
The Washington Post: Mr. Obama is a man of supple intelligence, with a nuanced grasp of complex issues and evident skill at conciliation and consensus-building. At home, we believe, he would respond to the economic crisis with a healthy respect for markets tempered by justified dismay over rising inequality and an understanding of the need for focused regulation. Abroad, the best evidence suggests that he would seek to maintain U.S. leadership and engagement, continue the fight against terrorists, and wage vigorous diplomacy on behalf of U.S. values and interests. (Oct. 17
)The Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News: Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis,
enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand. The same cannot be said of Sen. McCain…Few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. (Oct. 25)The New York TImes: The nation’s problems are simply too grave to be reduced to slashing “robo-calls†and negative ads. This country needs sensible leadership, compassionate leadership, honest leadership and strong leadership. Barack Obama has shown that he has all of those qualities. Mr. Obama has withstood some of the toughest campaign attacks ever mounted against a candidate. He’s been called un-American and accused of hiding a secret Islamic faith. The Republicans have linked him to domestic terrorists and questioned his wife’s love of her country. (Oct 23)
The Gloucester (N.J.) County Times: [Barack Obama] represents a departure from the political model that casts fear like a net over the country, paralyzing us and our better angels into submission. That’s the legacy of the Bush years. He has outlined plans to address the issues of health care, education and energy that are clearly superior to those of his opponent. (Oct. 26)
The (N.J.) Courier-Post: Some Americans have been able to weather the financial storm better than others, but few have been untouched by the nation’s roiling economy. If voters are dissatisfied with where they are now, with where the country stands today, this is an election in which they can do something about it. They can vote for change. (Oct. 26)
Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette: So judge the candidates not on the details, because they will change, but by their approach and their character. And over his long presidential campaign, Obama has displayed the character and gained respect as a leader. McCain, on the other hand, has persisted in flogging failed policies. With McCain, we’re faced with a form of déjÀ vu that will send America into a faster tailspin. More American blood will be spilled. More of us will be out of work. More children and teachers will be working under flawed federal law. (Oct. 19)
The (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post: We believe Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is the candidate who can bring about the change that Americans want and need. We endorse his candidacy to be the next president of the United States. (Oct. 26)
The (Bergen County, N.J.) Record: Intellect and charisma are not guarantees that Obama can lead a nation, but they are a foundation upon which to build. (Oct. 26)
The Times of Trenton (N.J.): Republican contender Sen. John McCain has served his country well and honorably for many years as a serviceman and a senator. Sen. McCain has been a good captain, but Sen. Obama is clearly the commander we need. (Oct. 28)
The Montgomery Advertiser: The Republican nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, is a distinguished American who has honorably served his country. His story of imprisonment during the Vietnam War is well known, and his service there deserves the deepest appreciation. But those years in a POW camp do not entitle him to the presidency, nor can they be said to have prepared him for it. (Oct. 25)
The Oregonian: Crucially, Barack Obama can recall the United States to its own highest principles and priorities. He can change course after an administration that has often cut constitutional and legal corners, and frequently stumbled into policy and philosophical embarrassment. (Oct. 24)
The Decatur (Ala.) Daily: Sen. Barack Obama is young; but he’s four years older than John Kennedy was when voters elected him the 35th president. The Kennedy aura created Camelot, which helped revitalize the nation and give it new goals. The new can-do philosophy won over malaise and man went to the moon. (Oct. 26)
The Talladega (Ala.) Home Daily Journal: A Republican presidency over the past eight years and a Republican-controlled Congress over six of the last eight has netted little if any gain for the American people. And they are looking for hope and inspiration. It is much like the employers or organization leaders you have known in your life. Who do you follow? ‘My way or the highway’ or the one who inspires and motivates and has a clear vision for the future. (Oct. 26)
The Benton (Ark.)Â County Daily Record: Let us begin by saying we still are not completely sold on the thought of an Obama presidency. At 47 years old, his resume is far thinner than his opponent’s. Obama has not been in the U. S. Senate for even one full term. We worry about how some of his policies will work and that Washington will become a one-party town again come January when Obama takes office. (Oct. 25)
Renita Burns is the editorial assistant at BlackEnterprise.com