Globe, L.A. Times say Obama can unite country

The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times today added to the weight of newspaper opinion favoring Barack Obama.

The Globe endorsed the Democrat "with great enthusiasm." "The charismatic Democrat from Illinois has the ability to channel Americans' hopes and rally the public together, at a time when the winds are picking up and the clouds keep on darkening."

"Unlike many of his rivals this year of either party, Obama isn't refighting the political or cultural battles of the 1960s. Instead, he is asking Americans to take responsibility for the nation's problems now; no one else will take care of them, and the consequences of years of disunity and profligacy should not be visited upon future generations," the editorial continues.

An accompanying editorial expressed profound disappointment in Republican John McCain, whom the Globe endorsed before the New Hampshire GOP primary way back in January:

"We didn't count on the other John McCain - the one who showed up for the general election. Whether in thrall to his handlers or his own ambition, McCain has abandoned respectful discussion of differences for a trough of pandering and invective."

The Times editorial focused on the country's divisions.

"The task of repairing those divisions will fall to one of two men -- or, rather, to one of two tickets. And the question for those who care about such things thus becomes: Will Barack Obama and Joe Biden do more to reconstruct a culture of mutual regard, or will John McCain and Sarah Palin fare better?" the editorial says.

"As is often the case in this election, Obama has a more promising but more limited record. His message is one of unity, and his own life provides evidence that he means it. He is physical testament to the bridging of our ethnic divides, and he gracefully calls on America to heal its wounds.

"On the question of who will best bind up this torn nation, we are far more troubled by what we know about McCain than what we don't know about Obama. It is proper to admire McCain's service to his nation -- as a military man and as a senator -- and he deserves our respect. On the question of who best can reunite us, however, we cannot put our faith in a man who has done so much to drive us apart."

As of Monday, Obama led in newspaper endorsements 28-11, according to a count by Editor & Publisher magazine.