Endorsement: Hillary Clinton for president

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Endorsement: Hillary Clinton for president 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Traditionally, editorial page endorsements close with the reveal, the naming of the institution’s preferred choice for elected office, but this time we need to say immediately and unambiguously: We support Hillary Clinton for president.

Sonic blasts of rancor from Donald Trump have obscured communication in recent months. Trump has been the funhouse mirror version of a candidate, but the lights are about to be shut down on this carnival and we’re a little queasy from the ride.

Throughout his bombastic campaign, Trump has routinely offered reminders that he is woefully unfit to hold this office.

Though Clinton’s critics have occasionally mined sexist reasons to shove her aside, there have also been profound reasons for voters to challenge her past conduct, including the latest revelations about her dubious handling of classified emails. Despite this, she is more than merely the lesser of two evils; more than the president voters will be forced to settle for. She has the experience and potential to hold our highest office with distinction. Americans should embrace her possibilities.

Take a moment to consider the last century of presidents and ponder which ones had job training comparable to that of Clinton. She knows the Oval Office from the inside as first lady, congressional chambers as senator, and leaders of the world as secretary of state.

Young women deserve to live in an America where a woman serves as president. Young men deserve it too.

At times, Clinton has been her own opponent, reckless with classified emails; and less than transparent in her approach to dealing with colleagues, the public and media. These missteps will not be easily overlooked as she is scrutinized during her administration. She needs to become less insulated, and should sever her ties to the Clinton Foundation during her term.

Her resiliency in the face of Trump’s repugnant taunts revealed the mettle she will surely need to summon as she is held to higher standards than previous commanders in chief.

What Clinton lacks in charisma she makes up for as a policy wonk. This should make her a better president than a candidate.

She has plans to help seniors and the impoverished with medical expenses; students with debt; parents with child care costs; small business with taxes; and our planet with progressive environmental policies. She strives to craft a humane version of immigration reform and reasonable gun safety laws. She may be too traditional a policymaker during a time when the people of American are starving for change, but she has demonstrated an ability to work with rivals to mend breaches.

We hope her years at Yale Law School and as a senator just over the state line forged a sensitivity to Connecticut’s needs. She also has a strong working relationship with U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, who was her law school classmate.