AUGUSTA – Two central Maine newspapers on Sunday endorsed Democrat John Kerry for president, saying the presidency of George W. Bush has been a “disaster.”

The Kennebec Journal of Augusta and the Morning Sentinel of Waterville in matching editorials said Bush is not competent to continue serving the highest office. The editorial characterized Bush’s understanding of national and global affairs as “frighteningly inadequate.”

The editorial said that Kerry offers Americans “the opportunity to go in a new direction.” Kerry has a long, distinguished career, despite what the Bush campaign has tried to lead people to believe, the editorial said.

“Kerry is the right person to lead the nation as it struggles to recover economically, to regain its standing internationally and to find its way in Iraq – all critical areas where Bush has performed miserably, perhaps even recklessly,” the editorial said.

The Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel are owned by Blethen Maine Newspapers. The company also owns the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram, which endorsed Kerry two weeks ago.

The Bangor Daily News endorsed Kerry in its Saturday weekend edition.

The state’s second-biggest newspaper said the next four years in the war against terrorism will be defined by what happens in Iraq, and that Kerry is more able than President Bush to change the course in that country.

The president, the newspaper wrote, has “squandered his opportunity to more effectively fight this global war through a fixation on Iraq that has alienated international support, turned good will into resentment and increased the danger to America.”

The paper said Kerry has shown throughout his career that he understands the way to build alliances is through respect for the ideas of other nations, leadership by example abroad and strict standards for human rights.