Both Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are strong candidates with the will to succeed, however, only one can be president. The Daily Press is backing Obama.
It was a tough decision to make, but those on the editorial board felt Obama is the candidate who truly represents change. There is something comforting about voting for Hillary, knowing that Bill will be close by, but she has proven to be divisive and will certainly get Republicans to mobilize against her, almost ensuring another four years of stagnation, with no progress made on immigration, social security and health care. Obama is a fresh face with a history of working across the isle as a senator and appeals to voters on many levels. Some may say that Obama lacks experience, but it’s not about experience, it’s about one’s judgment and ability to lead.
This one was easy — Sen. John McCain. He’s the lesser of all evils. It’s no secret that Santa Monica is a left-leaning city, and so are members of the Daily Press editorial board, hence the strong support for Obama. Like the freshman senator, McCain has an appeal that crosses party lines and is committed to restoring faith in the process, which is why he has been dubbed the “common sense conservative.” Having served in Congress since 1982, he certainly has the experience and has the tenacity to get things done, an example of that being campaign finance reform and his work to limit the influence of lobbyists in Washington. His policy on Iraq is troubling, as well as his positions on abortion and gay rights, but when looking at the other Republicans still left standing, McCain is the clear choice. He’s more moderate and more in tune with the mainstream.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 4, 2008. Read the original PDF.