For the first time in its history, the national Humane Society Legislative Fund has endorsed a presidential candidate.

The board of directors at the leading animal-rights group - composed of Republicans and Democrats - unanimously endorsed Democrat Barack Obama to win the Nov. 4 election.

Calling Obama "a solid supporter of animal protection," the Humane Society Fund mentioned a dozen bills he backed as an Illinois state senator to build animal shelters, to increase penalties for animal cruelty and to promote spaying and neutering.

In the U.S. Senate, Obama backed similar bills, as well as federal legislation to stop animal fighting and puppy mills - where dogs spend their entire lives isolated inside cages to produce puppies to sell in pet shops.

The group's statement pointed out that Republican nominee John McCain also supported some federal animal protection bills, but failed to co-sponsor others.

The Humane Society Fund criticized McCain for agreeing to speak to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance on Sept 27, calling that group "an extremist organization that defends trophy hunting of threatened polar bears and captive shooting of tame animals inside fenced pens."

After praising Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden for his stands on animal rights, the group focused on "retrograde policies" that Gov. Sarah Palin advocated in leading "an all-out war on Alaska's wolves and other creatures. ... She has probably done more harm to animals than any other current governor in the United States."

The humane group says the GOP vice presidential nominee engineered a campaign to shoot wolves from airplanes and helicopters to "artificially boost the populations of moose and caribou for trophy hunters."

Palin even used state funds to give a $150 bounty for every left foreleg cut off a dead wolf. She also sued to stop the Interior Department after the Bush administration announced its decision to include polar bears as a threatened species under the 1973 Endangered Species Act. The Humane Society Fund concluded:

"The choice for animals is especially clear now that Palin is in the mix. If Palin is put in a position to succeed McCain, it could mean rolling back decades of progress on animal issues. Voters who care about protecting wildlife must become active over the next six weeks to elect a president and vice president who share our values. ... Obama-Biden is the choice for humane-minded voters."

This issue is little noticed in the current campaign - but it reveals a lot about the difference between the two major tickets in the Nov. 4 election.

The board of directors at the leading animal-rights group - composed of Republicans and Democrats - unanimously endorsed Democrat Barack Obama to win the Nov. 4 election.

Calling Obama "a solid supporter of animal protection," the Humane Society Fund mentioned a dozen bills he backed as an Illinois state senator to build animal shelters, to increase penalties for animal cruelty and to promote spaying and neutering.

In the U.S. Senate, Obama backed similar bills, as well as federal legislation to stop animal fighting and puppy mills - where dogs spend their entire lives isolated inside cages to produce puppies to sell in pet shops.

The group's statement pointed out that Republican nominee John McCain also supported some federal animal protection bills, but failed to co-sponsor others.

The Humane Society Fund criticized McCain for agreeing to speak to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance on Sept 27, calling that group "an extremist organization that defends trophy hunting of threatened polar bears and captive shooting of tame animals inside fenced pens."

After praising Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden for his stands on animal rights, the group focused on "retrograde policies" that Gov. Sarah Palin advocated in leading "an all-out war on Alaska's wolves and other creatures. ... She has probably done more harm to animals than any other current governor in the United States."

The humane group says the GOP vice presidential nominee engineered a campaign to shoot wolves from airplanes and helicopters to "artificially boost the populations of moose and caribou for trophy hunters."

Palin even used state funds to give a $150 bounty for every left foreleg cut off a dead wolf. She also sued to stop the Interior Department after the Bush administration announced its decision to include polar bears as a threatened species under the 1973 Endangered Species Act. The Humane Society Fund concluded:

"The choice for animals is especially clear now that Palin is in the mix. If Palin is put in a position to succeed McCain, it could mean rolling back decades of progress on animal issues. Voters who care about protecting wildlife must become active over the next six weeks to elect a president and vice president who share our values. ... Obama-Biden is the choice for humane-minded voters."

This issue is little noticed in the current campaign - but it reveals a lot about the difference between the two major tickets in the Nov. 4 election.