Our View

Press-Citizen editorial board

The prevailing narrative of the Democratic primary campaign has been that of heart vs. head, of idealism vs. pragmatism. This narrative has its appeal — it's intuitive, easy to process. But the pitched battle between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is not such a cut and dried opposition. Supporters of Clinton will say Sanders overreaches, that the policies he proposes are too far outside the realm of reality. Sanders supporters will say Clinton is bought and paid for, a tool of big money in politics and a representative of the status quo.

Neither would be correct. Sanders' ideas might be possible with a massive electoral swing in his favor, winning back one or both houses of Congress from the Republicans. A tall order. Clinton, for her part, has resolutely refused the notion contributions from Wall Street influence her policies, and she went through her plan to curb the financial sector's influence on the economy in a meeting with the Press-Citizen editorial board. It was a key moment in the hourlong interview, where Clinton got forceful about the shadow banking sector and demonstrated an extreme competence built over decades as a first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state.

That animation, and the zeal with which she's approached these final days before the Iowa caucus, show her capacity to fight for what she believes in. It showed she can be just as passionate as Sanders when it comes to defending working people from the excesses of the ruling class. And it is, in large part, why we endorse her for the Democratic nomination.

There can be little doubt that in terms of raw experience, there is no more qualified person for the presidency than Hillary Clinton. No candidate on either side of the aisle has racked up the credentials she has, and she has done so under sustained attack from members of both parties. It's the opinion of the board there might not be a more qualified candidate in the modern history of the United States.

In her tenure as first lady, Clinton fought for universal health care legislation that was roundly defeated by special interests and politicians in both parties. That loss, claimed as debilitative to Clinton's political future, instead appeared to temper her for fierce upcoming fights. Clinton licked her wounds and came back with the Children's Health Insurance Program with support from Republicans and Democrats, and it seemed a new approach was born.

Citing deals struck at all levels of government by finding common ground with Republicans, Clinton is campaigning on a record of accomplishment. Up to the moment she announced she was running for president, many of her former colleagues would have agreed with that assessment. High-profile figures like Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and former presidential candidate Lindsey Graham had praise for Clinton over her time in Washington, and though Democratic primary voters might not consider that a strength, it will do well for her chances in a general election, no matter the opposition.

As evidenced by Sanders' surge in Iowa and New Hampshire, Clinton has not run the perfect campaign. Too often she has appeared unwilling to take on the ambitious policy goals Sanders has made centerpiece. The Vermont senator's presence in the race has helped to keep Clinton accountable, and to give her a real fight for the nomination. Programs like single-payer health care and free public education might seem like pie-in-the-sky fantasies, but Clinton — if elected — could take a page out of Sanders' book in coming to the table with an "extreme" proposal to bargain for a better result. That's Negotiation 101, and Sanders has outfoxed Clinton in capturing a disaffected, frustrated Democratic base that has felt burned by the moderate presidency of Barack Obama.

We must also express caution at aspects of Clinton's foreign policy. In her meeting with the board, she defended her call for a no-fly zone over Syria as a move in a game of diplomatic chess, something to get the Russians talking about the best course of action against the Islamic State. But enforcing a no-fly zone means a commitment to shooting down aircraft that violate that airspace. Russia will not look kindly on what is tantamount to a declaration of war, even if it is nothing more than a tactic to get them to back down.

And despite poll numbers, it's impossible not to recognize former Gov. Martin O'Malley's campaign, the "fifth wheel" of this Democratic primary. In his meeting with the editorial board, O'Malley showed a hyper-enthusiasm for the business of governing, a command of the issues and a personability unmatched by any candidate the board met with. It's puzzling as to why an energetic campaigner like O'Malley, who has spent so much time in the state, hasn't caught on with voters. His diligence and commitment to the process deserve reward, and it would be foolish not to consider the Maryland governor for the vice presidency or a high-level Cabinet post.

Though the pull of Sanders' rhetoric and candor is strong, and his willingness to stand on principle impressive, Hillary Clinton's overwhelming record of getting things done makes her the right choice for the nomination. She's been given a nearly 30-year trial by fire and come through with a laser focus on what matters to her and the American people. She's ready for this next, most challenging contest of her career, and we think this is her time to prove it.