eb. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama picked up key newspaper endorsements in Wisconsin and Texas today as he and Hillary Clinton compete for delegates in states that may help determine which candidate wins the Democratic presidential nomination.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin's largest daily newspaper, said it recommends that voters support Obama in the state's Feb. 19 primary because ``change and experience are crucial to moving this country forward'' and the Illinois senator is the ``best-equipped to deliver that change.''

The Houston Chronicle, the biggest daily publication in Texas, gave similar reasons for endorsing Obama, 46, over Clinton. He's ``the best-qualified by life experience, skill and temperament to be the standard bearer for his party,'' the newspaper said in an editorial today. Texas will hold its primary on March 4.

Both newspapers also backed Senator John McCain of Arizona for the Republican presidential nomination, whose lead in some of the largest states with contests coming in the next few weeks effectively blocks any challenge to his nomination. McCain, 71, has 814 of the 1,191 delegates needed to claim the Republican nomination, according to unofficial estimates compiled by thegreenpapers.com, an independent, non-partisan Web site that tracks election statistics.