Hillary Clinton is Daily’s choice in Dem. primary

Democrats are getting ready to make history Tuesday when 22 more states vote for presidential candidates.

It’s a female candidate against a black candidate. One of them likely will be the Democratic Party’s nominee. So, does that distract us from other issues, or do those first-time events trump the war, the economy, and health care?

It is important to many people to elect our first woman president. That’s Hillary Clinton.

Many people think the nation has the ideal black candidate for the first time ever. That’s Barack Obama.

The United States will make history if one of these senators receives their party’s nomination, even if the nominee loses in November to the Republican or, perhaps, an independent challenger. Cold reality says Democrats must consider which candidate can win in November.

Sen. Obama’s campaign for change is noble. He has the credentials to be president.

Sen. Clinton is driven. She has the experience that Sen. Obama is still gaining in national and global leadership.

But, you might say to yourself, “Women are not temperamentally suited to lead a nation.”

Margaret Thatcher did. She led Great Britain for more than a decade, from 1979 to 1990; and Golda Meir led the struggling Israelis from 1969-74.

Sen. Clinton says she is ready to be president from the moment she takes the oath of office. That, of course, is an indirect jab at Sen. Obama’s limited roles in the U.S. and Illinois senates.

She is a known quantity in an uncertain world. Sen. Obama is not. Voters know where she stands on issues. She’s been on the public stage for a long time. She is a centrist and can work with people in both political parties who want to solve problems.

Sen. Obama leaves a trail of murky views that seem to be evolving as the campaign evolves.

The Daily believes Ms. Clinton is best qualified by experience in the legislative and executive branches to represent her party in the November General Election.