These are difficult times.

The United States is facing an economic crisis unlike any we’ve seen since the Great Depression.

Health care, food and fuel costs are skyrocketing and too many Americans are doing without. Some have to choose between eating, staying warm or taking their prescription medicine.

After more than five years, the war in Iraq continues and there does not appear to be an “end game” in sight. The conflict in Afghanistan has intensified and terror concerns have not dissipated since 9/11.

The next president has a daunting agenda and now more than ever, we need a leader who has vision, can inspire and will produce real solutions.

Barack Obama is that man.

Despite the critics who argue the junior senator from Illinois lacks experience, we believe Obama is exactly the kind of leader we need now.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell perhaps said it best:

Obama has “displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge and an approach to looking at problems like [the economic crisis] and picking a vice president ...” he said, adding Obama “has given us a more inclusive, broader reach into the needs and aspirations of our people. He’s crossing lines — ethnic lines, racial lines, generational lines.”

Obama’s opponent, Sen. John McCain is a war veteran, an American hero and has had a distinguished career in the Senate.

For years, he was the moderate maverick who worked with both Republicans and Democrats. He was always taking an independent approach to issues impacting our country, including illegal immigration and social issues.

We concede that the Courier editorial board was split over this endorsement. McCain, after all, is well versed in a number of areas, including foreign policy matters and how Washington works. But the majority of our board felt McCain’s campaign has trekked too far to the right.

In the end, this debate is about making a choice between Obama and McCain. Who will do the best job in moving us away from the past eight years of economic instability, partisan bickering and “cowboy diplomacy?”

We believe it is Obama who has shown he is prepared to take on the serious challenges we face as a nation.

A week prior to the Iowa Caucuses, Obama told the editorial board that now is the time for something greater than ourselves.