N.Y. Times Endorses Obama

In a move that should surprise no one, The New York Times has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president over his Republican rival John McCain.

Asserting that the U.S. is “battered and drifting” after eight years of President Bush’s “failed leadership,” the Times proclaims that this year “the nation’s future truly hangs in the balance,” and says Obama “has proved that he is the right choice to be the 44th president.”

In a lengthy editorial that savages McCain as it boosts Obama, the Times opines that Obama “has shown a cool head and sound judgment. We believe he has the will and the ability to forge the broad political consensus that is essential to finding solutions to this nation’s problems…

“Mr. Obama was an early and thoughtful opponent of the war in Iraq, and he has presented a military and diplomatic plan for withdrawing American forces…

“Both candidates talk tough on terrorism, and neither has ruled out military action to end Iran’s nuclear weapons program. But Mr. Obama has called for a serious effort to try to wean Tehran from its nuclear ambitions with more credible diplomatic overtures and tougher sanctions…

“It will be an enormous challenge just to get the nation back to where it was before Mr. Bush, to begin to mend its image in the world and to restore its self-confidence and its self-respect. Doing all of that, and leading America forward, will require strength of will, character and intellect, sober judgment and a cool, steady hand.

“Mr. Obama has those qualities in abundance.”