Two More New York Papers Endorse Hillary Clinton
The New York Times recently endorsed Hillary Clinton. Newsday and the New York Daily News do the same. From Newsday:
Obama presents an inspiring vision of how the nation can heal its polarizing partisanship. Clinton brings proven experience and knowledge to accomplish that goal. Democrats engaged in this election have distilled this argument down to a simple but essential question: Do you choose with your heart or your head?
It's a difficult decision, but in the end, we choose experience. Clinton has been an outstanding senator for this state and this Island. She's intelligent, hard-working, tough, passionate and has an enthusiasm for the important nuances of complex policy. Newsday endorses Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. ...While both are strong candidates, Clinton is better prepared to deal with the challenges the next president will confront.
When Hillary ran for Senate in 2000, the paper says it was "skeptical" and endorsed her Republican opponent. Now, it says,
Clinton tirelessly and carefully listened to the people of New York State. No gathering or concern was too small. In the Senate, she has worked hard and created a centrist record and bipartisan solutions. We endorsed her heartily in her re-election bid in 2006. Those traits -- hard work, smarts, bipartisanship, pragmatism and bulldog determination -- are important for the next president.
On Obama,
Obama has the potential to rise to greatness. But two years in the Senate is not much seasoning. He has yet to show a sufficient grasp of the complexities of the job. She has the savvy and the strength to lead today. That's why she's our choice for Democrats in Tuesday's primary.
The New York Daily News shouts its endorsement of Hillary on its front page.
Where Clinton and Obama differ most is on the critical questions of how they would approach the presidency and who is readier for the Oval Office at a time when the nation and world face increasingly complex challenges. There Clinton is the stronger candidate, and The News endorses her in this Democratic matchup.
After eight years at the side of President Clinton and seven years representing New York in the U.S. Senate, she is clear-eyed both about the demands of the globe's toughest job and about using the power that comes with it. She would try to lead by doing.
Her celebrity status notwithstanding, Clinton is at heart a worker in the trenches. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of the issues, and her success in the Senate on behalf of New Yorkers attests to both relentless attention to detail and skill at working the levers of power.
Like Newsday and other newspapers have noted, Obama is inspirational. But, it's not enough.
The next President will need more than hope to grapple as well with powerful new global tides. A severe and worsening credit crisis, immigration trends, the East-West balance of power - all those and more are in flux with critical consequences for the American economy and way of life. And then there's the question of the planet's very sustainability.
With seven years in the Illinois Legislature under his belt, along with just three in the U.S. Senate, Obama has never met challenges remotely of that magnitude. While no one comes to the presidency with perfect experience, he has been less tested than Clinton. And his conception of providing the vision for an administration rather than serving as an operating officer gives pause.
The News -- as the other papers endorsing Hillary, note Obama has true promise.
After further Washington experience, notably in the national security realm, his time to become the Democratic standard-bearer may well arrive.
Clinton's time is here now.
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