COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina's largest newspaper on Saturday endorsed John McCain in the state's Republican primary.

The State's editorial board wrote on the newspaper's Web site that its choice in the Jan. 19 GOP primary boiled down to McCain or Mike Huckabee.

It said former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee was "an exciting newcomer who shows a wonderful ability to connect with voters' concerns, and Republicans could do far worse than to choose him. But his utter lack of knowledge of foreign affairs is unsettling."

Arizona Sen. McCain, on the other hand, "has the necessary experience, not just in time served, but in the quality of understanding he exhibits across the board," the paper said.

Brad Warthen, The State's editorial page editor, said on his blog Saturday that the paper should have done the same thing in 2000 when McCain faced George Bush in the primary. "This time, we've done the right thing," Warthen wrote.

McCain spokesman B.J. Boling said the paper's nod was the first from a major South Carolina daily.

"They made a good decision," Boling said.