The Oregonian's editorial board

endorsed Democrat Barack Obama

for president in the

paper's Sunday editions, and

recommended that voters re-elect Republican Sen. Gordon

Smith

in the state's tight race for the United States Senate.

"Obama has the best chance, and the best abilities, to rebuild an American economy that has grown dangerously unstable," the editorial board argued in The Sunday Oregonian. The ed itorial choosing the Democrat over Republican John McCain also argued that Obama was a better choice to "rebuild the American position in the world, to restore our ties with traditional allies, to re-make the American argument to the rest of the world."

In endorsing Smith over Jeff Merkley, his Democratic challenger, the paper said: "With his seniority, record of moderation, ear for the concerns of Oregonians and willingness to break with his party when the circumstances call for it, we think Smith makes the better case" to represent the state in the Senate.

The editorials are printed in The Sunday Oregonian, the early editions of which go on newsstands today.

Readers who wish to comment or react may send letters to the editor via e-mail at letters@news.oregonian.com, or you can comment here on the Obama endorsement and here on the Smith endorsement.