US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, already leading Republican rival John McCain in opinion polls, got a major boost to his campaign with the influential 'New York Times' newspaper lending its endorsement to the Democrat, commending him for possessing ‘a cool head’ and ‘sound judgement’.

Contending that Obama was better placed to deal with deteriorating economy and sensitive world problems, including wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the newspaper said he was also likely to engineer sound alliances at international and national levels.

"He has shown a cool head and sound judgement. We believe he has the will and the ability to forge the broad political consensus that is essential to finding solutions to this nation's problems," the 'Times' editorial board said in an 1800-word endorsement.

In contrast, the paper said McCain has retreated farther and farther to the fringe of American politics, running a 'campaign on partisan division, class warfare and even hints of racism.'

Claiming that McCain's policies and worldview were mired in the past, the paper also termed his running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as ‘unfit for the office’.

"His choice of a running mate so evidently unfit for the office was a final act of opportunism and bad judgement that eclipsed the accomplishments of 26 years in Congress."

McCain, the paper said, offers more of the Republican every-man-for-himself ideology, now lying in shards on Wall Street and in Americans' bank accounts.

Obama, on the other hand, has another vision of government's role and responsibilities, it added.