LA Times Endorses Obama

In a strong statement, the LA Times comes out strongly for Barack Obama. They recognize Hillary's competence and accomplishments, but as I've been saying and others have been saying, Hillary represents the past -- the 1990s. Obama on the other hand represents the future.

They state clearly his appeal:

The U.S. senator from Illinois distinguishes himself as an inspiring leader who cuts through typical internecine campaign bickering and appeals to Americans long weary of divisive and destructive politics. He electrifies young voters, not because he is young but because he embodies the desire to move to the next chapter of the American story. He brings with him deep knowledge of foreign relations and of this nation's particular struggles with identity and opportunity. His flair for expression, both in print and on the stump, too easily leads observers to forget that Obama is a man not just of style but of substance. He's a thoughtful student of the Constitution and an experienced lawmaker in his home state and, for the last three years, in the Senate.

They also point out that his own story and person will provide a powerful new face for America that can help restore America's reputation in the world after a failed adventurism of the Bush years.

An Obama presidency would present, as a distinctly American face, a man of African descent, born in the nation's youngest state, with a childhood spent partly in Asia, among Muslims. No public relations campaign could do more than Obama's mere presence in the White House to defuse anti-American passion around the world, nor could any political experience surpass Obama's life story in preparing a president to understand the American character. His candidacy offers Democrats the best hope of leading America into the future, and gives Californians the opportunity to cast their most exciting and consequential ballot in a generation.

As Barack Obama closes in on Hillary Clinton, note that the largest paper in the state -- the Times -- as well as the San Francisco Chronicle, have given him a thumbs up.