he seven weeks of ups and downs that have enlivened the presidential campaign since the Globe made presidential endorsements before the New Hampshire primary have only reinforced our confidence in those choices.
Vice President Al Gore entered the race as possibly the best-qualified candidate ever, having gained invaluable domestic and foreign policy experience through a genuine delegation of power from President Clinton - and this on top of a successful career in Congress.
As a candidate, Gore has shown remarkable steadiness, responding to attacks but keeping his eye on his own forward-looking issues, especially the primacy of educational improvements. He has made gradual progress toward a goal he deserves - taking credit for his White House experience while distancing himself from Clinton's misbehavior.
Arizona Senator John McCain has contributed to the rough-and-tumble of the Republican primaries, in most cases by keeping to his belief that truth and candor, while sometimes awkward in the short run, will serve the candidate and the country best in the end. This has drawn in thousands of citizens who say they likely would not have voted except for McCain's fresh approach - a fact of which McCain said Saturday in Boston that he is ''most proud.''
McCain's proposals give evidence that he can be trusted to cut taxes and reform the military and the campaign finance system sensibly.
While they differ markedly on an array of issues, Gore and McCain are the most experienced candidates in each party on foreign affairs, and they also demonstrate the deepest understanding of the new worlds of technology and telecommunications. This means that each is the best candidate in his party to lead the nation's own economy and its participation in world markets.
The Globe reaffirms its endorsements of Democrat Al Gore and Republican John McCain in tomorrow's primaries and caucuses in Massachusetts and 14 other states.
