The influential New York Times on Friday endorsed the "brilliant" Hillary Clinton as the democratic presidential nominee saying it was "hugely impressed" by her knowledge, intellect and experience while asking the Republicans to chose septuagenarian John McCain for the November race.
The backing of a major liberal media establishment will undoubtedly be seen as a shot in the arm for both major party candidates as they wrestle through the nomination.
"The early (democratic) primaries produced two powerful main contenders: Hillary Clinton, the brilliant if at times harsh-sounding senator from New York; and Barack Obama, the incandescent if still undefined senator from Illinois.
As Democrats look ahead to the primaries in the biggest states on February 5, The Times's editorial board strongly recommends that they select Hillary Clinton as their nominee for the 2008 presidential election," the paper said.
While the idea of the first African-American nominee of a major party and the prospect of the first woman nominee were exhilarating, it said "'firstness' is not a reason to choose.
Obama and Clinton would both help restore America's global image, to which President George W Bush has "done so much grievous harm" the paper said but added that "Clinton is more qualified, right now, to be president."
"Hearing her (Clinton) talk about the presidency, her policies and answers for America's big problems, we are hugely impressed by the depth of her knowledge, by the force of her intellect and by the breadth of, yes, her experience," it added.
Clinton, it said, would be a "strong commander in chief" as she has more than cleared that bar using her years in the Senate well to immerse herself in national security issues and has won the respect of world leaders and many in the American military.
The paper said it had endorsed Clinton in 2006 as it was certain that she would continue to be a great senator.
Praising her comeback in New Hampshire and strong showing in Nevada, the daily said, "She is the best choice for the Democratic Party as it tries to regain the White House."
While maintaining that it had "strong disagreements" with all the Republicans running for president, the daily said Senator McCain of Arizona will be the only Republican "who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe."
"McCain was one of the first prominent Republicans to point out how badly the war in Iraq was being managed. We wish he could now see as clearly past the temporary victories produced by Bush's unsustainable escalation, which have not led to any change in Iraq's murderous political calculus."
The paper, however, lashed out at former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, whom is had endorsed for re-election in 1997, describing the trailing republican hopeful as "a narrow, obsessively secretive, vindictive man who saw no need to limit police power".
"Racial polarisation was as much a legacy of his tenure as the rebirth of Times Square. Giuliani's arrogance and bad judgment are breathtaking," it said.
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