Posted on 10/28/2012 7:05:59 AM PDT by StandAndDeliver1
Most newspaper endorsements mostly don’t matter. The Washington Post on Friday endorsed Barack Obama; I confess that as much as I admire the editorial writers of the Washington Post (and I do) I haven’t read it yet. The Post, as I recall, has regularly endorsed Democratic candidates for a long time, although in 1988, when I was on the editorial page staff, it chose not to endorse either Michael Dukakis or George H. W. Bush, a stand that I think was logical in light of the paper’s editorial page stances—generally but not always liberal, often thoughtful in an intellectually interesting way—over the years.
But occasionally there comes an editorial page stance that matters. The Des Moines Register has endorsed Mitt Romney. The Register is not quite the statewide paper that it once was, but it is still clearly the most prominent paper in a state that is closely divided and has 6 critical electoral votes. The endorsement editorial is very much worth reading, because it tends to appeal to the high-minded affluent voters that can be found in large numbers on the west side of Des Moines and in its west side suburbs in Polk County and fast-growing Dallas County to the west. (Iowa was admitted to the Union in 1846, when the president was James K. Polk and the vice president was a Philadelphia banker named George M. Dallas, after whom Dallas, Texas, was also named.) The Register endorsed mostly Republicans from 1912 to 1960; it endorsed Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey in 1964 and 1968 and Richard Nixon in 1972; it has endorsed Democrats in every election since up until now. This is in line with a lot of editorial pages over the last century. They were Republican, but sort of thoughtful, up through the 1960s, and Democratic, but sort of thoughtful, from the 1970s on.
It is in the interest of the Romney campaign to transmit the text of the Register endorsement to voters in affluent suburbs all over the country; it is the kind of thing that will appeal to them, as they roll back from their trend of going more and more Democratic starting in 1992 and culminating in 2008 and recoil from the big government excesses of the Obama administration this year. It’s not the editorial I would have written. But, hey, the Register can speak for itself. The Real Clear Politics average of recent polls shows Iowa as 49%-47% Obama, and this endorsement could make a significant difference in this closely divided state. If we assume that Mitt Romney is leading Barack Obama in the following Obama 2008 states, as he is in RCP polling averages—Indiana, the Nebraska 2nd congressional district, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Colorado, Romney can win the presidency without Ohio if he wins Iowa and Wisconsin. The Register endorsement could go some ways to making the difference.
Barone has three new articles up today: The one about the CIA Director throwing Obama under the bus has a great final paragraph on the Director's motivation.
Another weak exposition from a GOP-e weenie. With bold leadership like this, no wonder thousands of conservative voters are giving the Republican Party one last chance. If this one fails, they will be out the door.
It’s remarkable how Barone is respected by so many people, including many on the other side of the aisle.
I always learn something that’s more than transitory when I read him.
All three of his articles today at the Washington Examiner are good, but his one on how minorities do NOT spell demographic disaster for Republicans is HUGE if true.
How so?
How so?
How so?
Here in the midwest, even the liberals (outside of academia and very large cities) have a big fat practical streak in them. Obama has failed. For that reason, you will see MN, IA and WI break for Romney before CA or the east coast.
??
At least two papers in liberal bastions, the Detroit News and the Sun Sentinel (Broward/Palm Beach), endorsed Romney this week. Yes, you read that right. And both editorials recognized Obama’s failings and the need for new leadership to restore the country’s economic vitality. Obama’s support is crumbling.
Four largest Iowa papers endorsed Romney: Des Moines Register, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Quad-City Times, & Sioux City Journal
I am in Wilmington, Delaware on a trip from the pacific northwest. Yesterday we went to Winterthur, the former home and museum of Henry duPont. The area around here is mostly affluent looking (gorgeous in fact) - especially closer to the museum although I think whites are outnumbered in the Sheaton where I’m staying. We saw many many Romney signs and not one Obama sign.
Apparently Biden lives in this area somewhere.
What is the title, please, I'd like to read it and forward it to some Commie-lib friends.Thanks.
Yeah he’s out in Centerville, just shy of the state line.
The way I access Micheal Barone is from Drudge. As you probably know, in Drudge's middle column at the bottom is a list of about 40 columnists.
Barone has three fresh articles.
Thanks!
Winterthur is beautiful but strange. I visited there some years ago. I can't quite define what makes it so odd but I believe it's because there were different "eras" and aspects of living all combined in one home. Did you get a similar impression?
By my calculations Romney can win the EC by winning Wisconsin and not Ohio. Winning Iowa and losing Wisconsin and Ohio makes it rough for Romney but you never know. Now Minnesota is in play and I see a strong showing for Romney in Michigan.
Ohio AND Wisconsin + Iowa = no law suits.
PLUS, Ohio = Senate seat and Wisconsin = Senate seat.
We have an interest, at this point, in spreading the field.
Pennsylvania and Minnesota are real possibilities. Pennsylvania = Senate seat
The other side is hoping on Get Out The Vote. This depends on the perception that they still have a chance. Break this perception, and we will win not only a larger victory in the Electoral College, but larger majorities in the Senate and House.
Even though there’s already been a lot of early voting in Florida, the extent of Romney’s victory - 4 points versus 1 - will determine whether we win that Senate seat. Ditto in Virginia.
Hate is replacing Hope on the other side. It’s getting ugly. Their chance to consolidate power is slipping by.
The Supreme Court and our precious Constitution are saved.
Hard to believe that anyone would use a newspaper endorsement to make a Presidential voting decision.
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