February 01, 2008 12:42 pm We would have no problem if Hillary Clinton were the Democratic nominee for president. For that matter, we would also have been fine with John Edwards, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd or Bill Richardson. Clinton has been a fine United States senator, representing New York state actively and well for the past seven years. She is knowledgeable about upstate issues and has been an effective advocate for her adopted state. However, today The Daily Star endorses Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in Tuesday's New York Democratic primary. For all of the debating, the campaign ads and invective, all of the major Democratic candidates essentially have agreed on the important issues. These include universal health care, the economy, the war in Iraq, abortion and gay rights. What earns Mr. Obama our endorsement is the possibility that he will change the dynamic of our entire political system. He is the main reason why there has been such an influx of young people who have voted in various primaries. An attractive alternative to "Clinton fatigue," Obama's soaring rhetoric has the ability to inspire a new generation to take an active role in government. We do not discount what an important and long-overdue wonder it would be to elect our first woman president, but the idea of a compassionate black president would send a message around the world that a new day has dawned in America, that things are going to be different from the foreign policy blunders of the Bush administration. It is a tough choice between Clinton and Obama, but we believe Barack Obama represents the best hope to give America a badly needed fresh start. McCain best pick for Republicans There are many issues about which we disagree with John McCain. These include abortion, universal health care, gun control, gay rights and especially the war in Iraq, to name just a few. So why is the Arizona senator receiving The Daily Star's endorsement in Tuesday's New York Republican primary? Many hard-core conservatives in his own party cannot stand the man. Of course, when your enemies include disgraced former House Whip Tom DeLay and radio blowhard Rush Limbaugh, that might be reason enough to earn discerning Republicans' votes. The party race has essentially come down to McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Romney is a panderer, a political chameleon who has changed his views on virtually every major issue to appeal to conservatives who will decide the nomination. What's more, he promised voters in Michigan he would bring back lost auto industry jobs when he knew he could do no such thing. McCain, while not above questionable politics such as the last-minute false ad he ran against Romney before the Florida primary, at least has the courage of his convictions. On matters such as global warming, campaign finance reform and torture _ about which he is something of an expert having been a prisoner of war in Vietnam _ McCain has shown courage and bipartisanship. He is far and away his party's best choice.
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