Of the remaining candidates in Tuesday's Democratic primary, one stands out as not only capable of winning in November, but also ready to lead the American people from Day One into a better future: Barack Obama.
Obama and his opponent, Hillary Clinton, are both strong candidates, and each would be an able president, capable of restoring America's reputation abroad and undoing much of the damage done at home by the current administration.
Obama's competition, Hillary Clinton, is, as she is wont to remind us, eminently experienced. She is an able and effective senator and surely would be a competent president. Given the gravity of the challenges our nation faces, however, competence and experience alone are not sufficient. This is particularly so in the case of Clinton, who generates such hostility (much of which is irrational) that it would be difficult for her to bridge the partisan divide.
Obama - who spent 16 years as a community organizer, civil rights lawyer and elected representative - already has more government experience than many of our best presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. Through his early and vocal opposition to the Iraq War, Obama demonstrated the kind of sound judgment and political courage lacking in his opponent. And in his campaign for president, when faced with distortions and mischaracterizations of his own record, he has refused to respond in kind.
Among Obama's many skills, perhaps the most notable is his ability to inspire. Through his extraordinary rhetorical skills and his grass-roots-oriented campaign, he has drawn a collection of supporters as passionate as they are diverse, bringing into the political process a record number of young people while at the same time spreading genuine hope to their once-cynical parents. By inspiring generations of Americans to think - and act - toward uniting to achieve a common purpose, Obama, in his own way, is working to bring about tikkun olam.
We are aware of the concerns about Obama that have been making the rounds within our community - some based on ignorance, some on prejudice, none of which cause us to question our endorsement. He has been a good friend to and strong advocate of the Jewish people and a stalwart supporter of Israel since his earliest days in the Illinois Legislature. We have every confidence he will continue to be so as president.
Of the leading Republican candidates, John McCain is far and away the most attractive option. An ardent supporter of Israel with ample foreign policy bona fides, he is the Republican candidate most likely to deviate from the disastrous domestic policies of the Bush administration.
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