When voters go the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4, they will be electing a new president who will face unprecedented challenges in terms of reviving our staggering economy, transforming our energy system and restoring the American dream to middle-class Americans.
We think U.S. Sen. Barack Obama is the candidate who is best prepared to address these daunting challenges and to work for you as president of the United States to bring the fundamental changes that are desperately needed in Washington, D.C.
Because make no mistake about it, there are fundamental problems with our economy, our energy policy, our health-care system and our public-education system.
We need a man who the plans, the drive, the vision and the temperament to make these fundamental changes.
We believe Barack Obama is that man, and we urge you to vote for him for president.
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Petosky News-Review:
As he approaches issues intelligently and thoughtfully, we wouldn’t expect Sen. Obama to go ideologically to the far left in making an appointment.
Finally, when it comes to temperament and vision, Sen. Obama is night and day from his opponent. He has eloquently spelled out his vision for America and has shown himself to be steady and sure. Given the brutal nature of the campaign prior to winning the nomination, he has shown his mettle.
McCain has shown a go-negative side that goes against what he said he wanted to be as a candidate. His willingness to let his negative spinmeisters take him there, when he was on the receiving end of it when he campaigned in 2000 against George W. Bush, is inexplicable. Will the real John McCain please stand up?
America faces many challenges. We need a president who has thought about where we have to go as a nation, how we want to get there and who can bring Americans together so that we all are part of moving this nation forward.
In our estimation Barack Obama is the candidate to do that, and that’s why we endorse him for president.
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Columbus Commercial Dispatch:
Not since the Civil War has America faced challenges as severe and varied as those that beset it today.
After eight years of a Bush presidency, most of them supported by a Republican-controlled Congress, the economy is in tatters; the country is mired in two wars with no idea of an exit strategy or what victory looks like; America's standing in the world is at an all-time low and the national debt has almost doubled. For middle-class Americans, health care has become increasingly inaccessible; pensions have shrunk dramatically and forclosures have skyrocketed.
Fortunately, as has been the case in other desperate times, an extraordinary leader has emerged from the fray.
Throughout this long and grueling campaign, Sen. Barack Obama has endured attacks on his faith, his patriotism and even his national allegiances. His response to these attacks has been measured, thoughtful and, in some instances, profound, such as his speech on race in America after remarks made by his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, were widely broadcast.
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West Plains Daily Quill:
Sen. Barack Obama is the best choice to lead our nation for the next four years. He has ideas and vision, and has consistent stances on topics of national importance.
Sen. John McCain, in contrast, presents the same old ideas held by the Bush Administration. By his own admission, while he is not George Bush, McCain did vote 90 percent of the time for Bush’s agenda. And he’s inconsistent: There were times, for example, when he opposed Bush’s tax cuts. It increases his capital as a maverick not at all when he switches his views on the tax cuts and other topics just to get elected.
Those who have known McCain the longest, both colleagues (Republicans and Democrats), and those observing in the news media, say not only has McCain changed since 2004, he has changed since the beginning of the summer -- into less of a gentleman and less of an attractive candidate. They say he is not the “same good old John McCain he was during most of his Senate career.”
Where McCain has been erratic Obama has been steady, and demonstrated sound reasoning. Where McCain has laid out positions and plans for America, most either will not work or will pander to the wealthy. His health care plan will leave more uninsured and underinsured Americans at risk than they are now. Deregulating the health care industry could lead to the same kind of disaster as deregulation of banking and finance businesses. The stipend allowed will not go far enough, will encourage employers to drop their employee health plans and might lead those of us with “pre-existing conditions” unable to purchase health insurance at any price.
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Montana Independent Record:
The next president will immediately face difficult challenges. But fortunately for us, our choice for president on Tuesday isn’t difficult at all. It is with enthusiasm that we endorse Barack Obama.
We are not, however, interested in singing to the Democratic Party choir here. Instead, we will show the many ways in which Obama actually is a better choice than John McCain.
McCain has become a very different candidate since winning the primary race. Before, he was against Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy. Today he wants to make them permanent. He once had a thoughtful immigration reform package. Now he just talks border controls. He once concerned himself with climate change. Now the topic has disappeared in favor of “drill, baby, drill.” Having been tortured himself, he once was strongly against torture by the United States. Now he supports Bush’s veto of legislation that would have banned torture by U.S. intelligence agencies.
A presidential campaign is a crucible, and McCain has failed the test. Note his erratic behavior at the beginning of the economic meltdown — first the economy was sound, then he was going to suspend his campaign to deal with the crisis, then, well, perhaps he wouldn’t suspend it. And what of his alarming running mate pick — perhaps the most important decision a presidential candidate can make? In an attempt to bolster his Republican base, McCain risked putting an unqualified Sarah Palin a heartbeat from the presidency.
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Can't find the editorial for Montana Standard.
Ditto for the Clarion Ledger.
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Bridgewater Courier News:
There is some hyperbole in all of those beliefs. But also plenty of truth. The last eight years haven't worked. Some challenges have been inescapable, some consequences perhaps inevitable. But as a nation we have headed in the entirely wrong direction, on countless fronts. Rarely in American history has the country been so much in need of as clean and distinct a break from its recent past as it can manage. And rarely in American history has the citizenry so badly needed a leader in whom it can genuinely believe.
Barack Obama has a chance to be that leader. He provides a far greater contrast to President Bush than John McCain, at a time when Democrats deserve the opportunity to repair a battered nation. He has the commitment, the charisma, and the ideas that could help heal the country.
It is more hope than expectation, that's true. Obama's critics scoff at such utopian visions as some sort of quixotic quest to find a Messiah. And there is a danger of some supporters placing Obama on too high a pedestal, from which the fall could only be loud and painful.
It is undeniable, however, that Obama the person, the public figure, has politically energized many Americans, especially young ones, to an extent rarely seen in the post-Watergate era, at least. People believe in him, and America needs that right now.
Barack Obama receives our endorsement for President.
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Parsippany Daily Record:
The Republicans have made much about Obama's inexperience.
And yes, that is legitimate criticism. Five years ago today, Obama was a state senator in Illinois. But if you put too much emphasis on experience alone, one would never vote against an incumbent for any office. Change will just about never occur if experience is your only guide, and change is what is needed. One way to confront this issue is to surround yourself with recognized experts. Considering that Obama will be able to rely on the advice of people like Warren Buffet and Colin Powell when it comes to the economy and foreign affairs, he's destined to do well in that regard.
The Republican makes some good points, too. McCain supports a line-item veto, and we're sure he'll be more passionate about a balanced budget than Obama would be. Overall, however, Obama's economic plan strikes us as doing more to give tax relief to more people.
The Democrat's tax plan is hardly revolutionary. He would repeal the Bush tax cuts and raise the top income tax rate by about 3.5 percentage points -- to what it was during the presidency of Bill Clinton. That's all.
We regret that the campaign has degenerated into the inevitable name calling, There are no "bad people" in this race. McCain is a war hero; Obama stands to make history. Both are patriotic.
We prefer Obama, because change is needed, and he will do more to help average Americans.
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Niagara Gazette:
We’re going to give Barack Obama’s “Hope and Change” a chance.
Much like we stated earlier this week — things are a mess. As George W. Bush wraps up his second term in office, he’s leaving us with an economy in crisis, a seemingly never-ending war in the Middle East and a broken health care system.
Yes, Senator Obama’s programs border on socialism, but there are too many of us who can’t afford and do without health care while we pour billions of dollars overseas without taking care of our own first. There is no reason for any American to be hungry or lack medical care while we waste money on pork projects and to prop up foreign governments.
God knows, what we have been doing in government has not worked.
Although Obama’s political resume is short, his life experience, education, eloquence and temperament are suited to building national confidence and international consensus for the goals of our democracy. We’re encouraged that he’ll act in the best interests of America and seek out the best to advise him.
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Union Sun & Journal:
Barack Obama is our choice for president because he inspires the belief that we can do better.
He breaks from policies that have diminished us as a nation these past eight years — on the war, the economy and health care.
He has an intelligent, calm and reasoned approach to problem-solving.
Although Obama’s political resume is short, his life experience, education, eloquence and temperament are suited to building national confidence and international consensus for the goals of our democracy.
We are encouraged by his leadership that he will act in the best interests of America and seek out good men and women to advise him.
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Massillon Independent:
In the race for president of the United States, The Independent endorses Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. John McCain, and urges our readers to choose hope over fear, inclusion over divisiveness, and cooperation over unilateral action by voting for the Democratic Senator from Illinois.
Obama’s biography is a uniquely American rags-to-riches story. He rose from modest means, overcame the economic hardship of a single-parent household and earned an education at Harvard University. An elitist? Hardly.
We admire the fact Obama chose public service over private enterprise after completing his education, and returned to the mean streets of Chicago to serve as a community organizer just as the exodus of the steel industry was ravaging the city’s economy, leaving rampant unemployment.
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Courier-Express:
On the issues we don't put a lot of credence in what either candidate is saying. As noted above, both men are bloviating hogwash six months out of date, pre-meltdown. They're trying to win a cross-country race with steam engines (hot air, to be precise) when we have already entered the internal combustion gasoline engine age.
Obama is vulnerable to pro-life views on abortion - but McCain is vulnerable to those same pro-life sentiments on Iraq.
Our next President will be forced into a reactive, defensive strategy during his first months in office. Obama's chances of working cooperatively with a likely Democratic-controlled Congress are better than are McCain's, especially given the legacy of bitterness between Congressional leaders and the departing Bush-Cheney administration.
Believe me, this is a lukewarm sentiment at best.
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Sharon Herald:
Not wanting more of the same in the next four years, The Herald endorses Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama for president.
Our country needs to be led in a different direction. We believe that the energetic and charismatic Obama has the leadership skills necessary to free us from the economic quagmire created under eight years of the Bush administration.
Obama and Sen. John McCain have both claimed to be a “candidate for change,” but McCain’s record indicates otherwise. We see him exemplifying the adage: “If you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”
During the Bush years, McCain has been part of the problem, voting with the president more than 90 percent of the time. McCain says he’s a maverick, but it’s a stretch to make that claim under such circumstances. As Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey has assessed, “You can’t call yourself a maverick when you are really a sidekick.”
On the biggest issue – “It’s the economy, stupid!” to steal a line from President Bill Clinton’s successful run in 1992 – McCain has failed to reach out to the middle class, a large voting bloc and a group vital to the long-term economic health of the country. He barely referenced its members during his debates with Obama, giving the impression of ignoring a widening chasm as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
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New Castle News has a recap (I can't find the editorial):
A candidate possessing substantial charisma and remarkable oratorical skill, Obama has made history with his candidacy. And while we view these qualities as plusses, we are most impressed with his intellect, demeanor and depth.
McCain, by contrast, has struggled in this campaign. We respect his service to the nation, but his erratic style and his willingness to pursue foreign policy strategies similar to that of the Bush administration tell us he should not be elected.
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Marshall News Messenger:
But we think Obama will take us in the correct direction. We have real doubts, despite his talk of being a maverick, that John McCain has much of a different vision for the United States than Bush. Much of what he has talked about wanting to accomplish are rote Republican projects that have been bandied about for years.
That is not what we need. Eight years with a Republican as the leader of our country has not served us well. We need a change.
Unlike McCain, or at least the personality McCain has shown during the campaign, Obama does not get ruffled easily. He is thoughtful, calm and seeks rational answers.
Does he lack as much experience we would like to see? Yes. There is no doubt about that. But we believe he will surround himself with those who have experience and, furthermore, we believe he will listen to what his advisors have to say. Indeed, one thing we worry about with McCain is that he would not listen nearly enough to other voices because he would believe he always knew the answer. In several debate performances McCain told us that he "knew" how to catch Osama bin Laden and that he "knew" how to repair the financial mess.
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Aberdeen Daily World:
Have the stakes ever seemed higher for a presidential election?
No one on this editorial board was around when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected in 1932, but we’re developing a feel for those desperate times — and the need for a leader who will embrace big, bold ideas executed with confidence and a pitch perfect ear for the right advice.
That’s why we’re endorsing Barack Obama for president.
These are desperate times. We’ve lost faith in our financial system, we’re fighting two wars with a military stretched dangerously thin, and in the world community we’ve never had fewer friends or more countries rooting against us.
We need a different way of looking at things. Obama was right when he compared the ideological battles that divide us on the right and left today to the same tired debates that occurred in dorm rooms in the Sixties.
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Benton County Daily Record:
The question is, which candidate is most likely to follow through and bring fresh ideas to the White House, understanding that the same old same old doesn't cut it anymore ?
Our answer: Barack Obama.
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.
On the other hand, over the course of this extremely long presidential campaign, Obama has shown us he has the potential to be a leader - maybe even a great one. Throughout the campaign, nasty comments have been directed at him by his opponents, pundits and others, but through it all he has maintained his composure. Obama won each of the three presidential debates if only because he came across as the more stately, more dignified candidate.
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Fort Payne Times-Journal:
McCain continues to promise no tax increases, yet we cannot find any reasonable way his plan could work. He wants to eliminate the federal government’s “pork” projects, but we know that will not happen. If you ask around DeKalb County, you would find many who agree with eliminating pork. However, few want to eliminate the pork that pays for our improved infrastructure, educational programs or other things we believe necessary.
We are no different from others around the country. We want to end everyone else’s pork, just not ours. That’s why McCain’s idea will not work.
In this troubling economic time, we believe Obama will have the right focus for families across DeKalb County, Alabama and our nation. At this time, Obama’s calm, reasoned approach to potential problems serves our nation’s interests much better than what we perceive as McCain’s confrontational and often haphazard style.
This year, this time, Obama is the right choice.
The "pork barrel spending" argument always was silly. McCain knows as well as anybody one of the MAJOR reasons people vote for their candidates is that they WILL bring in "pork"--money--into their communities or states.
It's just stupid.
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Peoria Journal Star:
We know something of Obama. It seems to catch some by surprise to learn he's been to this office a number of times, as a candidate, as Illinois' junior senator. What we've learned from those visits, and from his performance since, is that he would bring an intellectual depth to the White House that has been missing for a while. We do not see the bogeyman some fear will turn the tables on life as we know it in America. For the most part he's taken the high road in this campaign, passing on the politics of fear and division that can make it so difficult to govern after the polls close. Fixing complex and seemingly overwhelming problems requires bipartisan cooperation. Parochially, it never hurts to have a guy from Illinois in the White House.
John McCain is a good man who has done much to be proud of over a quarter century of public service. As we said, this was the closest of calls.
But on balance, after the longest of campaigns, BARACK OBAMA has our endorsement for the presidency of the United States.
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Coshocton Tribune:
Obama's detailed proposals offer a better alternative for virtually everyone in Coshocton County. His plan would cut taxes for all but the wealthiest individuals. He understands the urgent need for health care we can afford, and our nation's desire to end our unnecessary foray into Iraq.
Most important, Obama maintains the calm temperament needed during a time of crisis. He is a clear thinker who knows how to get his points across.
While McCain is a genuine war hero who deserves our respect and admiration, he has failed to make his case for the nation's highest office. Instead, he has frittered his time focusing on irrelevant issues designed to deflect attention from his lack of an economic plan.
Obama represents the best of America - a man who built himself up from modest beginnings to stand at the threshold of history. His election will help restore our standing in the world and begin to repair the damage done to our Constitution and America's reputation during the Bush regime.
Two years ago, Coshocton County expressed its disgust with Republican politics by supporting Gov. Ted Strickland, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Zack Space. With the help of you undecided voters, it can do so again on Tuesday.
The Zanesville Times Recorder has the same editorial.
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Bucksville County Courier Times:
We are asked to choose between two candidates for president who bill themselves as agents of change. Democrat Barack Obama, a charismatic orator who preaches a gospel of compassion and conciliation, and generally advocates a bottomup philosophy vs. the failed trickledown policies of President Bush. Should the young Illinois senator become the next president, he would seek to significantly alter U.S. government policy in pursuit of a dramatic shift in direction.
Fundamental and penetrating change could be his legacy — a kinder and gentler America that prizes individual rights and values relationships with other nations.
Obama’s Republican opponent, Arizona Sen. John McCain, likewise would pursue change. A noted maverick and reformer who has bucked his own party as well as Washington’s powerful elite, McCain says he would transform the culture of government. He rails against wasteful pork-barrel spending, saying he’d veto any bill that contains costly earmarks. And he promises to finally crack down on the corrupting impact of lobbyists, campaign contributors and other free-spending influence peddlers.
A Vietnam veteran and former POW who bears the scars of torture, McCain’s character is almost beyond reproach. And he has a proven record of reaching across the aisle in pursuit of bipartisan solutions.
And so, both candidates’ messages are appealing. But in our view, Obama offers the greater hope for change — real change, dramatic change, the kind of change that can lift our government out of the muck and mire and, ultimately, lift the nation’s spirit. It’s why the Courier Times endorses Sen. Barack Obama for the office of President of the United States.
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Lebanon Daily News:
We believe our nation is at one of those historic crises when great leadership is needed. Time and again before when we’ve been there, great leaders have stepped forth — Lincoln, Roosevelt, Reagan. We believe Sen. Obama is a visionary leader who can inspire Americans and restore our country to its rightful position of leadership in the world, respected among nations. We believe he has the right stuff to be among the great ones.
The next four years may well be a time during which great sacrifice will be needed from us all. We call on the voters of the Lebanon Valley to make the first of those sacrifices by setting aside lesser concerns — party, political philosophy, single-issue preoccupations, old fears about otherness fanned by Internet smear campaigns — to vote for the candidate with the vision to lead us out of this crisis.
That candidate is Sen. Barack Obama.
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Indiana Gazette:
The message that the Obama team put forth took advantage of their candidate's strength as a communicator to extol change during a vulnerable time for an increasingly unpopular Republican president and his administration. The ammunition for the challenger is plentiful: an economy in free fall, a drooping housing market, a ballooning deficit, a war in Iraq that drags on, a reconstituted threat from al-Qaida in Afghanistan, domestic neglect, a loss of stature on the world stage, and so on.
McCain has faced an uphill fight ever since the primary election to assure voters that he is not synonymous with George Bush and the entrenched notion of politics as usual.
A lack of focus also hurt his campaign, as he and his team seemed to flail about at times trying to find a winning message or an attack that would stick against Obama. This undisciplined campaigning gives us pause.
For his part, Obama has passed a brutal test during this election process, and he seems to have emerged stronger. We are optimistic he will take these newfound strengths with him into the Oval Office.
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