The big day has arrived, and it’s time to make our picks for votes in the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses.

The Iowa State Daily editorial board endorses Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley.

Ironically, neither of these candidates is leading in the race for his party’s presidential nomination.

But both Republican McCain and Democrat Bradley have been favorites of the press corps, have reached out for the populist vote and, in general, have shaken up politics as usual by giving their respective front-runners, Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore, formidable competition.

Many Iowa residents may wonder why McCain would be our choice, since he chose not to campaign actively in Iowa.

He was the only Republican candidate who didn’t attend the big-bucks Iowa Straw Poll in August, and he’s since opted to spend most of his time wooing New Hampshire voters.

He’s not even expecting Iowans to turn out at the caucus on his behalf, although he’s said he would appreciate any support that comes his way tonight.

So why support a candidate who doesn’t appear to care about Iowans?

Because McCain has cut through enough red tape during his career in the Senate to know that getting your message out on a grand scale is more important than stumping shamelessly for votes. Because he’s fought for campaign finance reforms, a sore subject for both Democrats and Republicans.

Plus, it’s pretty gutsy to be a Republican and an antagonist of the tobacco industry. For that alone, McCain deserves points.

McCain’s a tough former POW; he’s served his country in the military and in the statehouse. He has the elected-office experience that most of his opponents, such as Steve Forbes, Alan Keyes and Gary Bauer, lack, and the intelligence and leadership ability that Bush won’t ever develop.

As for Bradley, it’s true that both he and Gore have paid their dues by serving the public. But it’s Bradley’s commitment to students, his idealism, and — it’s clich‚, but Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone is correct — the similarities between he and Robert F. Kennedy.

Bradley’s tough enough on social issues such as gun control, but he’s right on the money when it comes to other matters that many people care about, such as protecting gays and lesbians by including them under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Bradley also cares about a woman’s right to choose, developing a universal health-care plan and support of ethanol subsidies, issues that many Iowans also care about.

But the fact that Bradley was a longtime member of the New York Knicks as well as an Olympic athlete makes one thing perfectly clear: He’s a lifelong teammate, and he’s got the people skills, the understanding and the diplomacy to lead this country with fervor.

We’ve said our piece. Now make up your mind and get to the caucuses today.

Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Sara Ziegler, Greg Jerrett, Kate Kompas, Carrie Tett and David Roepke.