The Kansas City Star, The Miami Herald and the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., all influential newspapers in major battleground states, recommended Barack Obama for president in their Sunday editions.

The endorsements were part of what appears to be a groundswell among newspapers in favor of Obama over his rival John McCain.

The Star, the Herald and the News & Observer are owned by Sacramento, Calif.-based The McClatchy Co., but McClatchy does not dictate what recommendation its papers make in political contests.

McClatchy's Sacramento Bee also recommended Obama to its readers on Sunday. Other McClatchy newspapers that endorsed Sunday included the Bradenton Herald in Florida, the Olympian in Washington State, and the Idaho Statesman in Boise, Idaho.

What impact the newspapers' recommendations will have, of course, is unknown. The value of such endorsements is hotly debated in both news industry circles and among politicians.

Last week, Obama received the endorsements of the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Tribune. Editor & Publisher, a newspaper trade publication, reported Saturday that by its count newspapers endorsing Obama outnumbered those supporting McCain, 62 to 18.

Obama was endorsed last weekend by the Toledo Blade and the Dayton Daily News in Ohio.

Two major papers endorsed McCain on Saturday: the Tampa Tribune and the Dallas Morning News.

Here're links to some of the editorials. (Scroll down to mid-page).

(Excerpted from the Miasmi Herald)