The Washington Post Friday backed Democrat Barack Obama to become the next US president in a gushing editorial, saying he had the potential to be a "great" leader despite his relative inexperience. The influential newspaper said its thumbs up was "without ambivalence," and praised Obama's intelligence and political skill while blasting Republican rival John McCain, 72, and his running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, 44.
"The choice is made easy in part by Mr McCain's disappointing campaign, above all his irresponsible selection of a running mate who is not ready to be president," the newspaper said. The editorial described the 47-year-old Illinois senator as "a man of supple intelligence, with a nuanced grasp of complex issues and evident skill at conciliation and consensus-building."
"Mr Obama has the potential to become a great president," said the newspaper. "Yes, we have reservations and concerns, almost inevitably, given Mr Obama's relatively brief experience in national politics. But we also have enormous hopes." The Washington Post endorsed Democrats Al Gore and John Kerry in the past two presidential elections, which were won by Republican George W. Bush.
The paper said Obama's response to domestic issues such as the growing economic crisis would show "a healthy respect for markets tempered by justified dismay over rising inequality and an understanding of the need for focused regulation." On foreign policy issues, "the best evidence suggests that he would seek to maintain US leadership and engagement, continue the fight against terrorists, and wage vigorous diplomacy on behalf of US values and interests," it said.