Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican presidential hopeful John McCain won endorsements from the Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board.

The backing, in editorials posted on the newspaper's Web site, may help Obama after Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Ed Rendell endorsed New York Senator Hillary Clinton last week. Arizona Senator McCain is riding a wave of momentum after winning the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries.

Pennsylvania, which has 181 delegates available in the Democratic race and 74 for Republicans, will hold its primary on April 22.

Obama ``has shown on the campaign trail that he offers more than just pretty words,'' the Inquirer said. ``In debates and speeches, he has provided details of a White House program that, with adjustments, could produce the outcomes this nation needs.''

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards's ``populist style might have made him a formidable candidate in any other presidential election,'' the newspaper said. ``But not this one.''

While Hillary Clinton, 61, wife of former President Bill Clinton, would make history as the first woman to become president, just as Obama would be the first black president, her high negative ratings in polls ``suggest she could be a catalyst for division when the nation longs for unity,'' the newspaper said.

``In an election where change is the operative word, would the former first lady represent that?'' the Inquirer said. ``After two Bush presidencies, many Americans don't see change in a Clinton dynasty.''

Past Partisanship

Obama, 46, is the ``best Democrat to lead this nation past the nasty, partisan, Washington-as-usual politics,'' the Inquirer said.

Clinton leads Obama 42 percent to 33 percent, down from the 24-point advantage she held in early December, according to a Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll published Jan. 24. Edwards, 54, received 11 percent support. Three out of five supporters of each candidate say they would like Clinton or Obama, if nominated, to choose the other as a running mate.

On the Republican side, McCain, 71, ``has personal bravery, political courage and a confident sense of how he would lead this country,'' the newspaper said. ``He's the authentic candidate in a field of wannabes and flip-floppers.''

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee ``engaged in borderline mockery of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's Mormon faith during the Iowa caucuses, and employed religious symbolism to win votes,'' the Inquirer said. ``The sooner he quits, the better.''

Core Beliefs

Romney, who could best deal with a possible recession because of his business experience and record of fiscal management in government, ``has tried to be so many things to so many different constituencies, he's left voters with little idea of his core beliefs,'' the Inquirer said.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is ``no longer'' the favored candidate to easily carry New Jersey and Pennsylvania because he's focused all his efforts on Florida, the paper said.

``McCain has shown an ability to learn from mistakes,'' the newspaper said, making him ``clearly the strongest Republican for president.''

A Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll, taken Jan. 18-22, showed McCain topping the Republican field with 22 percent, followed closely by Huckabee and Romney. The biggest change in the poll is the shift from former front-runner Giuliani, whose support plummeted almost by half to 12 percent since a survey last month.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nadine Elsibai in Washington at nelsibai@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 26, 2008 17:36 EST