Another endorsement

The Financial Times for Obama

There have been a lot of other papers endorsing Obama lately, but I am particularly interested in the ones that absolutely cannot be called "the liberal press" and who traditionally have a conservative view.

I thought this paragraph was interesting, because while Obama's critics disregard his speaking ability as little more than pretty words, it is much, much more than that.

Nor should one disdain Mr Obama’s way with a crowd. Good presidents engage the country’s attention; great ones inspire. Mr McCain, on form, is an adequate speaker but no more. Mr Obama, on form, is as fine a political orator as the country has heard in decades. Put to the right purposes, this is no mere decoration but a priceless asset.

I think there is a growing consensus that what America is going to need a lot of, soon, is inspiration.

And this commentary of McCain's behavior of late:

He has offered risk-taking almost as his chief qualification, but gambles do not always pay off. His choice of Sarah Palin as running mate, widely acknowledged to have been a mistake, is an obtrusive case in point. Rashness is not a virtue in a president. The cautious and deliberate Mr Obama is altogether a less alarming prospect.