The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, New York

A "hugely impressed" New York Times endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic White House nomination in its Friday edition, praising her intellect, experience and capacity to unite America.

The glowing endorsement was a valuable boost for the former first lady and senator from New York, as she fights an intense battle for her party's White House nod with Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

In a rebuke for former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani meanwhile, the paper chose to endorse Senator John McCain on the Republican side, though its backing was less important for him than for Clinton, as many conservatives revile the paper. In a valuable boost for Clinton, who some critics, including backers of Obama, see as polarizing, the Times editorial board said the paper's home state representative in the Senate was "capable of both uniting and leading."

"Hearing her talk about the presidency, her policies and answers for America's big problems, we are hugely impressed by the depth of her knowledge, by the force of her intellect and by the breadth of, yes, her experience," the paper said.

"We saw her going town by town through New York in 2000, including places where Clinton-bashing was a popular sport. She won over skeptical voters and then delivered on her promises and handily won re-election in 2006." The paper praised Clinton for her come-from-behind victory in the New Hampshire primary after her stunning defeat by Obama in the leadoff Iowa caucuses, as well as her win in the Nevada caucuses.

"Her new openness to explaining herself and not just her programs, and her abiding, powerful intellect show she is fully capable" of uniting America, the paper said.

"She is the best choice for the Democratic Party as it tries to regain the White House." News of the paper's endorsement buoyed the Clinton campaign, minutes after the former first lady flew into New York City for two fund-raisers, before heading back to South Carolina, which holds a primary on Saturday.

The Times said that McCain, who is struggling to emerge as front-runner from a fluid field, was the best choice for the Republican nomination.

It said the choice of the former Vietnam war prisoner and Arizona senator was an "easy one."

"Senator John McCain of Arizona is the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe," the paper said.

"With a record of working across the aisle to develop sound bipartisan legislation, he would offer a choice to a broader range of Americans than the rest of the Republican field