Concord Monitor: Hillary y McCain

Hasta ahora el Concord Monitor -el diario capitalino de New Hampshire, segundo más importante del estado- se había pronunciado sólo para decir a quién no votar -a Mitt Romney. Este fin de semana ya nos dice a quién sí votar. Tal y como se esperaba, para la primaria republicana de New Hampshire apoya a John McCain. Al tratarse de un periódico de tendencia demócrata, su endorsement no ha sido codiciado por los candidatos republicanos. Pero McCain puede presumir de incluirlo en una lista de endorsements que también incluyen al conservador Union Leader.

(...) Like the gyroscopes that keep ships and planes on course, firm principles and a profound sense of honor guide Sen. John McCain. He learns from his mistakes, but he does not abandon long-held beliefs, even when his stands could cost him the presidency.

McCain's willingness to break with his party on issues like climate change and immigration, his honesty and his refusal to pander make him the Monitor's choice in the Jan. 8 Republican presidential primary.

Last summer in Concord, with his campaign broke and his unwavering support for the war in Iraq costing him politically, McCain said he would rather lose the presidential race than lose the war. No one in the room doubted that he meant exactly what he said. Since then, he has earned the support of New Hampshire voters by attending town meeting after town meeting, where he has invited tough questions and answered them. (...)

Entre los demócratas, en la editorial de mañana domingo el Concord Monitor tiene previsto pedir el voto para la Senadora Hillary Clinton. Aquí un extracto de lo que se publicará mañana:

(...) Clinton's ambitious to-do list for her first few weeks in office gives us confidence that her priorities are right and that she would act swiftly to make a positive difference. She is the Monitor's choice in the Jan. 8 Democratic primary.

New Hampshire Democrats and independents are blessed with a strong field of presidential candidates at a time when a change of course is desperately needed. We have been impressed by Joe Biden's pragmatic foreign policy and by John Edwards's insistence that we pay attention to the poorest Americans.

Barack Obama, more than most, has the power to inspire. The positive tone of his campaign is not a gimmick. He is a serious candidate with sober ideas. For reasons symbolic and substantive, he would also be a nominee Democrats could feel proud to vote for.

But Hillary Clinton's unique combination of smarts, experience and toughness makes her the best choice to win the November election and truly get things done. (...)