NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - I reached for my coffee and flipped to the Sunday Daily Press editorial page, which endorsed McCain. I was embarrassed for my hometown newspaper. In 2004, the editorial board broke tradition and did not endorse incumbent George W. Bush because the Republican was not behaving like a GOP commander in chief. Bush was spending federal dollars like a drunken sailor, said that editorial. His reckless behavior was too much to bear.

Now, the paper's editorial board ruled out Obama partly because of his thin government experience - three years in the U.S. Senate and seven as an Illinois state senator - and favored McCain. Yet the newspaper failed pathetically to make a persuasive case why McCain is the better man for president.

He has no coherent economic policy. McCain has changed his story six, seven times since Labor Day. Apparently, his latest plan is to use Joe "I'm not a licensed plumber" Wurzelbacher to challenge Obama's tax policy. After checking by nosy journalists, it turned out that Joe was not really a plumber and owed his state Ohio a grand in taxes.

Wurzelbacher revealed a lot about the inept McCain camp. Why didn't they vet the guy before using him as fodder for the climatic final debate? Make sure he did not have embarrassing details?

Incredibly, McCain continues to invoke Joe's name on the trail. The candidate needs to look the man in the eye and apologize for putting his untidy business on Main Street.   

As I read the editorial and shook my head in disbelief, it was amazing that my local paper was oblivious to the notion that McCain disqualified himself for president when he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. If Obama's public service record is thin, her resume make the senator's look like he is an elder statesman. Palin has turned out to be a buffoon in a skirt and heels. She has time to do sketch comedy on "Saturday Night Live," yet the Alaska governor too fragile to take questions from the national press corps.

If McCain, 72, is in fact elected, she is a heartbeat from commander in chief. Scary.

The Daily Press editorial did not upset me, I just felt sad and embarrassed for my former employer. This week the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times made history in endorsing the Democrat Obama for president.

The Daily Press is in the Tribune Co. family with Chicago and L.A. Maybe the paper's editorial board deserves a cheer for independence, but a jeer for poor judgment.

McCain was the man who faulted Obama for "eloquence" at the final debate because Houdini-like, Obama explained the reason for his vote on an abortion bill years ago in the Illinois legislature.

Earlier in the day when I logged on to my e-mail,  the AOL home page lead story was GOP U.S. Sen. Susan Collins' plea to the McCain campaign to cease and desist "Robo calls" to potential voters that repeat Obama's relationship - however shallow - to William Ayers, the '60s radical. The automated attack calls, said Collins of Maine, don't help her re-election chances.

Obama did not get my local paper's editorial endorsement. I doubt that he's hurt. The senator is probably smiling because on Sunday, former secretary of state Colin Powell endorsed his candidacy on "Meet the Press." Powell the moderate Republican is friends with McCain, however he said the tone of the GOP candidate's campaign was disturbing. It's time, said Powell, for a generational change.

"Show me" state citizens probably agree. The Democratic candidate attracted 100,000 people Saturday in St. Louis. Missouri is a former red state like that is now competitive. McCain is playing catch-up in former safe states like this one and North Carolina. He's keeping the GOP base fired up at rallies, but it looks like McCain is turning off moderates and independents that are on the fence, but are increasingly disturbed by his erratic behavior and incoherent policies.