That change is what Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has pledged to bring to the White House, and it’s time to give him a chance to do exactly that.

The State News Editorial Board formally endorses Obama for president of the United States and urges all voters to help elect him Nov. 4.

Obama’s economic plan addresses the tough questions we’re currently facing and appears to be a possible solution to the quagmire in which the United States has found itself.

Given the growing divide between the rich and the middle class, it only makes sense to level the playing field in terms of taxes. If you make more, you should pay more, because you’re better equipped to shoulder such a burden. It’s an idea Republican presidential candidate John McCain once espoused, right on this campus in a visit earlier this year.

The Obama health care plan like a good first step toward solving a problem that is increasingly becoming worse. Extending Medicare to families without insurance and allowing those with plans to keep them if they’re satisfied might not be a perfect solution, it’s a good first step to helping those currently gambling with their futures due to a lack of health coverage.

An Obama presidency also will likely repair many of the tattered foreign relations that have been left in the wake of eight years of cowboy diplomacy. His pledge to sit down with foreign leaders — even those hostile toward the United States, like Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — is a sign he’ll be more likely to look for a diplomatic solution to a problem rather than a military one. Hopefully, such a stand will allow the United States to avoid entering into yet another unneeded military conflict.

Obama’s choice of Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., as his running mate also showed an awareness and desire to compensate for his weaknesses in both foreign policy and overall experience in the political arena. Biden is a long-time member of the Foreign Relations Committee and a the senior U.S. Senator from Delaware.

More than anything, Obama’s conduct during this time of crisis for the nation shows that he’d be the leader that the country needs. His steady hand will likely help the country cope with any upcoming situation and allow him to be the rock for citizens to lean on in times of stress.

McCain is an honorable man who has served this country with dignity.

In 2000, he might have been the right answer for the country, but unfortunately, his voting record since has demonstrated he would simply represent a continuation of many of the policies that have brought us to our current state.

With the country’s economy reeling and our military fighting on two fronts, it’s more important than ever that we elect the proper person to lead us forward. During the past year, Obama has proven that he’s that man.

America is on the wrong path. A vote for Obama will help put us back on the right track.