Newspaper endorsements roll in on both sides
(CNN) – With nine days to go until Election Day, more newspapers are throwing their support behind either President Barack Obama or Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the race for the White House.
While a few papers have switched parties from their pick in the last election - like Iowa's largest newspaper, the Des Moines Register, which flipped to Romney on Saturday - many of the endorsements announced Sunday follow partisan suit with the paper's last presidential endorsement.
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In battleground Ohio, Obama picked up the endorsement of The Blade in Toledo, whose editorial board also picked him in 2008.
In neighboring Pennsylvania, Obama received the endorsement of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, as he did in 2008.
"In ordinary times," the editorial board wrote, "the remedy might be to scrap the Democratic administration and vote in Mr. Romney's Republican alternative." But, the paper argues, these are "extraordinary times," and Americans need a candidate "whose heart - unlike his challenger - has not wavered nor his principles changed."
Obama also picked up a recommendation on Sunday from a newspaper in the heart of the auto bailout, the Detroit Free Press, which listed a series of Obama's accomplishments over the last four years - including the Chrysler and General Motors bailout, the Affordable Care Act, and an improving economy. That editorial board also picked Obama in the last election.
Pennsylvania is generally considered a Democrat-safe state, but Republicans have recently indicated they see the state's 20 electoral votes as in play. The same is true for Michigan, a state with 16 electoral votes that has historically leaned toward Democrats; Republicans have recently suggested a push for support in the state.
Raleigh, North Carolina's News & Observer, Kentucky's Lexington Herald-Leader and Minnesota's Star Tribune chose Obama in 2008 and also picked the president this time around. While Kentucky is a solid Republican bet, North Carolina, once considered a toss-up on CNN's Electoral Map, now leans toward Romney. Minnesota, with 10 electoral votes, leans toward Obama.
For his part, Romney picked up the endorsement of Virginia's Richmond Times-Dispatch, whose conservative editorial board picked Republican Sen. John McCain in 2008. The paper writes that Obama's re-election campaign has rested on "misleading assertions" to dog the Republican challenger.
Romney, the Times-Dispatch wrote, "has succeeded as a family man, governor, entrepreneur, Olympic leader. He is a man of character, a problem-solver, a turnaround specialist. He has earned our enthusiastic endorsement. America needs President Romney."
The GOP nominee also received the support of The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California, which threw its support behind McCain in the last election. California, however, is expected to be in Obama's column on November 6.
Oklahoma City newspaper The Oklahoman, which supported McCain in the last go-around, endorsed Romney on Sunday. The editors wrote that after an intense Republican primary, Romney "goes before all voters as America's best hope to create jobs, cut deficit spending, reduce the national debt, restore American exceptionalism, reform entitlements and achieve North American energy independence."
Finally, a newspaper in Obama's home territory, Illinois, switched its endorsement from "Illinois' favorite son" in 2008 to his Republican rival in 2012. The Daily Herald in suburban Chicago announced Sunday it would back Romney, yearning for the "inspiration" that came with Obama's campaign in 2008.
"Four years later, where is the hope?" the paper wrote. "Where is the confident swagger and leadership to uplift the nation's mood?"
"A moderate Republican Mitt Romney offers a new approach to what we all can embrace - the politics of hope, of working together for the common good," the Illinois paper wrote. "This time, we believe he offers the best hope for all Americans."
CNN's Dana Davidsen contributed to this report.
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I live in So... California and have regular access to three newspapers...I can tell you that I wouldn't follow any of the three as far as voting is concerned......two of them are so one sided as to be laughable and the third..while a good newspaper seems to be as confused as I am.... Endorsements from newspapers don't give people any more to work with than their own common sense...Newspapers are all opinion with a little bit of inside knowledge that may or may not have solidity and are in the long run not much better than our own thinking if we make some effort to read,listen and think!!!!!!!!
Unbelievable how we can refer to a person of character and our President "with all do respect" in the same sentence is an oximoron if thats how its spelled. He talks about taking care of your fellow brother and George Obama is living in a hut in Kenya. He still hasn't come out and admitted I knew about the killings of our 4 Americans other than I am investigating the situation. Lastly, for all of the liberals that beat up on the rich "Americans". Can you please stop saying we need to take more from the rich and redistribute to the rest of us including me. I go out and earn a living every day as I am certain that many of you do as well. I am a US citizen and yes an immigrant whom is not rich. But what right do I have to take from others? Whether they are rich or not its none of my business and I say congrats if your path in life. But liberals stop trying to separate parties aka the republicans are for the rich and the democrats are for all working people... Or as it seems in this country for all non working people that are able to be supported by our government.
The Des Moines Register is owned by Bain. what a brave endorsement lol
President Obama, a man of the people, for the people.
Ahh, irrelevant words from an irrelevant medium.
FYI... What I find interesting is that one major national newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, For only the second time in its 165-year history, has endorsed a Democratic candidate for president.
They endorsed Obama this year.
That should be a stinging indictment to the Willard camp because most of those other endorsements on his side have predictably endorsed GOP candidates like clockwork.
Even the Washington Post, a conservative leaning national news daily, endorsed Obama this year.
Now had a Liberal leaning newspaper endorsed Mittsy over Obama then that would look very bad for the Democratic party! but that's not the case. Ill stick wit the President!
Unfortunately what the herald has is the radical ultra conservative Romney who tries to sell himself as a moderate. How can the (an ultra conservative news medium parade Romney when his true conservative views (worse than any past Republican President in modern history) compels him to use his draconian executive powers to undo social wars ( the R vs W) that have been fought and worn on the sacred grounds of the nation's highest court. Romney, the so " moderate" who feels compelled to bend over and answer to demands of the puritanical evangelicals who now supports and help bankroll his presidential bid. They the evangelicals and Romney, must impose their believes on millions of women disregarding the fact that women are also created with alienable rights including rights to make intelligent decisions a out their body. So Romney is no moderate, he is hard core conservative Republican, with no compassion,the worst I have witnessed in modern times. God please salvage America from the hands of those who pretend to be who they truly are not. Please do not let them succeed in deceiving us. Amen!!!