New Orleans' Times-Picayune endorses Obama for president.

Running a campaign is similar to running an administration. It requires that the leader set the tone; that he manage a complex organization; that he chart a nimble course in the face of changing circumstances; that he choose subordinates judiciously; that he exercise good judgment under pressure. An effective campaign is the prelude to a well-run office.

Sen. Obama has acquitted himself superbly, masterminding a marathon run with focus, discipline and a knack for assembling a talented team. He communicates across lines of age, class and ethnicity. He listens and he learns. His ability to beat the Clintons, past masters of electoral politics, showed tough leadership and organizational qualities.

A president must navigate by an inner compass. Mr. Obama's steadiness and his ability to weather political storms bespeak self-confidence and a sureness of purpose. We are riding out a tempest, and he is, quite simply, even-keeled. He possesses expertise that should endear him to the New Orleans area.

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We applaud Sen. Obama's penchant to use diplomacy in world affairs. We believe he would negotiate with skill while holding firm for America's core principles and national interest. Specifically, we agree with Sen. Obama's goal to shift the burden of political stability in Iraq to that country's leaders and bring our costly intervention to a close. Sen. Obama recognizes that the more strategically important challenge is Afghanistan, where terrorists are being harbored and bred.

Barack Obama For President