Unlikely Endorsements

Not that these things mean much in the big picture, but it’s interesting to see the sentiment around the country.

Notably, the Salt Lake Tribune (of all newspapers):

A simple choice: The nation needs Barack Obama in the White House

Over the 22 months since announcing his improbable candidacy, Obama has transcended his image as a mere political and racial phenomenon. Though blessed with uncommon skills as a writer and orator, he was mistakenly thought to possess too little political experience, too little backbone, and too little evidence of the tangible and intangible, qualities we ascribe to the best of our leaders.

Still, we have compelling reasons for endorsing Obama on his merits alone. Under the most intense scrutiny and attacks from both parties, Obama has shown the temperament, judgment, intellect and political acumen that are essential in a president that would lead the United States out of the crises created by President Bush, a complicit Congress and our own apathy.

McCain’s foreign policy objectives virtually replicate Bush’s disastrous course. His disdain for diplomacy is troubling, and his faith in eventual U.S. “victory” in Iraq is ill-defined. We simply cannot afford perpetual war. Obama knows this. And his nuanced approach would help America recover it’s global prestige.

And the Houston Chronicle as well:

Obama appears to possess the tools to confront our myriad and daunting problems. He’s thoughtful and analytical. He has met his opponents’ attacks with calm and reasoned responses. Viewers of the debates saw a poised, well-prepared plausible president with well-articulated positions on the bread-and-butter issues that poll after poll indicate are the true concerns of voters. While Arizona Sen. John McCain and his running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have struck an increasingly personal and negative tone in their speeches, Obama has continued to talk about issues of substance.

Back in the spring, Obama’s sentiments seemed more a hope than reality. Since then, we have watched him grow in the roles of candidate and leader, maintaining grace under fire without resorting to political expediency. He is by far the best choice to deliver the changes that Americans demand.

So yeah, what’s going out there, Utah?  I expect the editors of the SL Tribune to get a lot of hate mail, threats of cancellation, and cancellations in the next few weeks.  But good on them for having some balls to tell it like it is; it can’t be easy sticking your head out like that in one of the reddest states in the country.