America is at a pivotal point in its history — a difficult time that demands talented leadership to renew our nation's spirit and pull us together to meet the incredible challenges ahead.

The right leader for the time is Barack Obama.

The Wisconsin State Journal endorses the dynamic and youthful senator from Illinois for president.

Far more than his opponent, Obama represents a new direction. He has shown he can inspire and lead people to action. And his relatively short time in corrupt, self-absorbed, terribly-failed Washington, D.C., may actually be a key strength. Obama is not stuck in the status quo of the Capitol crowd or its long-failed Congress.

Obama doesn't just give pretty speeches. He speaks to people's best instincts, encouraging them to shine.

Obama is best-equipped this election to make America feel good about itself again. That's a powerful feeling — one that could go a long way toward invigorating our economy and national sense of purpose.

Obama is convincing in his call for a new kind of politics in Washington. His life story and history-making bid for the White House also have forced the rest of the world to view America in a new and more positive way.

An Obama presidency will immediately give America more clout and credibility around the globe. It will immediately win over and win back allies and friends.

As much as other nations may fear American power and influence, they fear our potential decline even more.

American must not decline. America must remain a beacon of freedom, democracy, innovation and prosperity.

And that's why voting for the first-term senator is worth the risk.

We endorse Obama with hope, but also some reservation.

As president, Obama must reject extremism. He needs to keep the bitter and ideologically-driven partisans on the far left and far right out of his administration.

If Democrats control Congress, Obama also must resist massive new spending and instead strive to ferret out waste. America is already teetering on financial collapse, having doubled its debt — much of it owed to foreign countries — during the last eight years.

Obama needs to tackle the unsustainable and soaring costs of entitlement programs.

Now is the time for shared goals and shared sacrifice. Now is the time for a fresh approach, for renewed energy, for smart and cost-effective solutions that appeal across the partisan, economic and racial divides.

John McCain is a great American. He would make a fine president. McCain is impressively steeled to say "no" to runaway government spending and commitments that could lead America to financial ruin.

Yet Obama shows strong signs of being that once-in-a-generation leader who can inspire more people to say "yes" to a better world for our children and grandchildren.

Wisconsin should support Obama on Nov. 4.