LONDON - The Financial Times newspaper in an editorial on Monday called for Democrats in the United States to unite behind Barack Obama after a key presidential primary in Pennsylvania this week.
Describing Obama as "a spell-binding orator" who should be the Democratic nominee for presidential elections later this year not only because he held leads in nominating wins, the popular vote and elected delegates with only 10 contests to go, but because "he is, in fact, the better candidate."
The business daily said that differences in policy between Obama and rival Hillary Clinton "look small and in reality are even smaller", so "this has therefore been a contest of character, temperament and ... identity."
"Mr Obama has fought a brilliant campaign, out-organising his opponent, raising more money, and convincing undecided Democrats as well as the country at large that he was more likeable, more straightforward and more worth of trust," the FT's editorial read.
"On form, he is a spell-binding orator and holds arena-sized audiences in thrall. He is given to airy exhortations, it is true, but genuinely seeks consensus and has cross-party appeal."
Of Clinton, however, the FT said her campaign "has been a shambles."
"She and her team expected to have it all sewn up long ago; they made no plans for a long struggle, ran short of money and had to reorganise on the run.
"Her speaking style is pedestrian, when it is not actually grating. Those who dislike her tend to do so with a passion."
It concluded: "The US has the urge to be inspired a little. Electing the country's first woman president ought to be very inspiring."
"But not this woman -- with her dynastic baggage and knack for antagonising the undecided -- running against this man.
"The Democratic party has waited an awfully long time for a politician like Barack Obama. Enough already."
psr/rl
04/20/2008 23:50 GMT