Alaska’s largest newspaper backs Obama. Alaska’s largest newspaper, The Anchorage Daily News, has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president, saying the Democrat “brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand.” In a rebuke of the Republic ticket, The Daily News said since the economy has turned sour, Republican presidential candidate John McCain has “stumbled and fumbled badly” in dealing with it. “Of the two candidates, Sen. Obama better understands the mortgage meltdown’s root causes and has the judgment and intelligence to shape a solution, as well as the leadership to rally the country behind it,” the paper said. As for Palin, who governs the state where the paper is based, The Daily News said she has shown the country why she is a successful state leader. However, the paper said few would say Palin is truly ready to step into the job of being president, despite her passion, charisma and strong work ethic. “Gov. Palin’s nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency – but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation,” the paper said. “Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time,” the paper concluded.

Ailing Kennedy “secretly” working on health care plan.

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) has “secretly been orchestrating” and overseeing meetings with members of both parties to draft health care legislation to present to the new president and Congress next year that would extend health insurance to all U.S. residents, The Washington Times reports. The “wide-ranging talks,” which Kennedy has monitored through telephone updates from his staff, have included 14 roundtable meetings attended by Kennedy aides and staffers for both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate Budget Committee, Senate Finance Committee and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, chaired by Kennedy. The talks also were attended by representatives from a “panoply of interests groups with stakes in the cost and availability of health coverage,” including the AFL-CIO, Business Roundtable, National Federation of Independent Business, the National Retail Federation, Federation of American Hospitals, the American Medical Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Families USA, AARP and Consumers Union, according to the Times. Kennedy aides have also started meeting regularly with consumers and small groups of people representing each area of the health care industry. The conversations, which started in June, are “extraordinary” because they are bipartisan and have “managed to put in the same room interests that rarely meet – let alone agree with one another,” Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, said. “There is a serious process moving forward and that augurs well. There really is a sea change that should not be underestimated in terms of attitude.” A spokesman for Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), ranking member of the Senate HELP Committee and a participant in the meetings, said the discussions “are a testament to how people feel about [Kennedy].” Kennedy is “really seizing the moment,” Adrienne Hahn of Consumers Union said. “He’s a real bridge-builder. He can bring strange bedfellows together.” The Times reports that participants believe Kennedy’s active role in the talks has “increased the likelihood of a breakthrough.”

TAGS: alaska, Anchorage Daily News, healthcare plan, kennedy, newspaper, obama, palin

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