Politics

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Declaring that "he is ready" and "a man of exceptional gifts," Chicago's two largest daily newspapers on Friday endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president.

The Chicago Tribune's nod marked the first time in its 162-year history the newspaper has supported a Democratic nominee for president. In making its announcement less than three weeks away from the Nov. 4 election, the Tribune's traditionally Republican-leaning editorial board expressed faith in Illinois' junior senator and praised him as a consensus builder.

Obama's other high-profile newspaper endorsements include The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. Both the Times and Tribune are owned by Chicago-based Tribune Co.

In its endorsement the Tribune, Chicago's largest daily newspaper, tried to assuage voters who aren't as familiar with Obama as Illinoisans are because "he's pretty new to them."

"We have tremendous confidence in his intellectual rigor, his moral compass and his ability to make sound, thoughtful, careful decisions. He is ready," the Tribune wrote in the endorsement posted on its Web site.

The Tribune noted that global financial turmoil is causing Americans to feel a "personal vulnerability the likes of which they haven't experienced since Sept. 11, 2001."

"On Nov. 4 we're going to elect a president to lead us through a perilous time and restore in us a common sense of national purpose," the newspaper said. "The strongest candidate to do that is Sen. Barack Obama."

The Chicago Sun-Times said Americans want to "rise above ideology, race class and religion" and Obama is the best candidate to do that.

"Americans across the land want to pull together, and in Sen. Obama they see a man of exceptional gifts who just might show them how," the newspaper said in the endorsement posted on its Web site.

The Sun-Times also said Obama eliminated doubts the editorial board had about his relationship with Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who was a key supporter and donor throughout Obama's political career. Rezko was convicted this summer on federal charges of using his clout with state government to squeeze kickbacks out of firms wanting to do business with the state. The charges do not involve Obama.

"When he finally sat down with the Sun-Times Editorial Board and answered every question, the Rezko story lost its steam," the newspaper said.

The Tribune had tough words for GOP candidate Sen. John McCain and said the Republican Party "has lost its way."

"We like McCain. We endorsed him in the Republican primary in Illinois. ... It is, though, hard to figure John McCain these days," the newspaper wrote.

The Tribune rapped McCain for failing in his "most important executive decision" by choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, saying "it's clear she is not prepared to step in at a moment's notice and serve as president."

"Give (McCain) credit for choosing a female running mate--but he passed up any number of supremely qualified Republican women who could have served," the Tribune said. "His campaign has tried to stage-manage Palin's exposure to the public. But it's clear she is not prepared to step in at a moment's notice and serve as president. McCain put his campaign before his country."

The Sun-Times said McCain is a hero. But it also said the Arizona senator has reversed his position on key social issues to curry favor with the Republican base.

"But somewhere along the line in this long race, McCain stopped being McCain," the Sun-Times said. "The maverick who always thought for himself, driven to win this election, turned his thinking over to others."

And the Sun-Times also disagreed with McCain's choice of Palin.

"Most egregiously, though he knew full well the significance of this decision for a man of his advanced years, he chose the unqualified Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate," the newspaper said.

Neither campaign immediately commented on the endorsements.

Friday's Tribune announcement surprised at least one passer-by outside the Tribune Store on Michigan Avenue.

"I think that's very interesting," said Johner Wilson. "But it's a testament to the times. Strange things are happening. Things that haven't happened before are happening."

"I think it was very clear she wasn't prepared to be president and that weighed heavily on the decision," Roosevelt University Professor Paul Green said. He called the Tribune's endorsement a "no brainer" from a political standpoint, saying everything is going Obama's way.

"You don't want to tick off the future president of the United States or his supporters, many of whom you'll need for support in your own operation," Green said. 

But DePaul University political science professor Wayne Steger said the papers' choice for president likely won't matter much.

"The literature indicates that endorsements have little effect," he said.

To read the full endorsement, click here.

CBS 2's Anne State and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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