Winner of Des Moines Register’s endorsement has won Iowa in 5 of last 6 presidential elections.
— Adrian Gray (@adrian_gray) October 28, 2012
This is huge:
The Register endorsement: Mitt Romney offers a fresh economic vision
Ten months ago this newspaper endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination for president. An overarching consideration was which of the party’s candidates could we see occupying the White House, and there was no question that Romney was qualified for the job.
Now, in the closing days of the general election campaign, the question is which of the two contenders deserves to be the next president of the United States.
Both President Barack Obama and Governor Romney are superbly qualified. Both are graduates of the Harvard University Law School who have distinguished themselves in government, in public service and in private life. Both are devoted husbands and fathers.
American voters are deeply divided about this race. The Register’s editorial board, as it should, had a vigorous debate over this endorsement. Our discussion repeatedly circled back to the nation’s single most important challenge: pulling the economy out of the doldrums, getting more Americans back in the workforce in meaningful jobs with promising futures, and getting the federal government on a track to balance the budget in a bipartisan manner that the country demands.
Which candidate could forge the compromises in Congress to achieve these goals? When the question is framed in those terms, Mitt Romney emerges the stronger candidate.
The former governor and business executive has a strong record of achievement in both the private and the public sectors. He was an accomplished governor in a liberal state. He founded and ran a successful business that turned around failing companies. He successfully managed the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Romney has made rebuilding the economy his No. 1 campaign priority — and rightly so.
63 Comments
HUGE
Awesome!
Biggest shocker of this election cycle. Now we need Cincinnati Enquirer (which I think he’ll get) and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (which would be as big a shocker as the Register). Did you also note that the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel decided not to endorse at all? That’s potentially good news in Wisconsin, since they’re usually a reliably Democratic paper.
You know I did: http://battlegroundwatch.com/2012/10/24/milwaukee-journal-sentinel-declines-to-endorse-obama-endorsed-him-in-2008/
New WaPo poll has Obama +4 in Virginia, with a sample that’s “only” D+4. Keith, thoughts?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postVApoll_20121026.html
Didn’t they show Obama with a double digit lead or something, with a D+8 sample, before?
WaPo polls have been fairly biased. The ran countless polls against Bob McDonnell and in favor of Creigh Deeds showing the race tied in their gubernatorial contest. They also ran big hit pieces on McDonnell. McDonnell won by over 20 points I believe.
Unless they release the internals (race, age, etc) I’d ignore them.
Virginia is a closer contest than Florida, but Romney is leading.
I was living in DC at the time and the Compost as we call it, did every thing in their power to help Deeds. They ran a poll showing Deeds within 11, he lost by 18. It became laughable. Everyone in the DC Metro area knows that paper is liberal trash.
They also have Republicans being just 27% of the electorate in VA, that seems really low.
They have a turnout rate of 94% in that poll. It will be somewhere in the mid to high 60′s. It’s basically a registered voter poll. Registered voter polls lean 3 to 5 points more towards Democrats than likely voter polls. Media polls like this are cheap and don’t screen voters accurately, so they need to be viewed as registered voter polls.
JGS, Virginia is done. Romney is going to win easily, by 4-7% The Democrats have pathetic EV turnout in D counties.
And it all starts to fall into place. Great news!
That is effn big. I wonder if ABC CBS and NBC will cover this blockbusting endorsement on the news shows tomorrow. As for the WASHPOST VA poll I dont take it seriously. Suffolk polling has stopped their polling their along with FL and NC saying theyre in the bag for Romney
Forgive my ignorance, but while I’ve heard of the Register newspaper, why is this huge news? Are they normally a liberal publication? Do they have an enormous reader base? Thanks!
~ Brittany
Um, you see the title.
They have not endorsed the GOP nominee since 1972…
And yes, they are the no. 1 newspaper in Iowa.
There’s no need to be rude. Just because they haven’t endorsed a Republican since 1972 would mean nothing if only 100 people read it. I honestly did not know, sheesh.
“Are they normally a liberal publication”
But, of course, in terms of electoral votes, Iowa is just dessert.
You got me there – if they didn’t endorse Ronald Reagan they must be liberal. Brittany had a blonde moment
~ Brittany
Yes its huge. They carry alot of weight in IOWA. This is a definite blow and embarrasment to Obama.
Thanks Jeff!
~ Brittany
Yes not good for Obama. Also this -
Adrian Gray @adrian_gray – Winner of Des Moines Register’s endorsement has won Iowa in 5 of last 6 presidential elections.
was just putting that in the post
LOL! Great site BTW and keep up the good work, this site is a godsend.
Very sorry if anyone was rude to you, Brittany.
Great news! I think Obama’s ” off the recordd” then ” on the recod” interview finally did it with the paper!
Great news. Lots of speculation after the Obama interview kerfluffle and then the side by side photos with Romney clearly looking the stronger, more positive candidate. Sounds like it was a battle among the editorial board but the good guys won.
Oh *that* newspaper! They were talking about that on Fox News. Sorry, I just didn’t realize this was the same newspaper. Great news!
~ Brittany
I think it is the biggest newspaper in Iowa but it is a liberal city/paper. Here is my take on newspapers. By and large, they are dead. The fools endorsed Obama in 2008 and his depression has killed the papers and economy. In Florida, I have seen furniture stores go out of business in droves. One had been around since 1924. Newspapers had even been talking about govt help or “bailoiuts.”
The very weird irony is I bet some of the papers realize that their papers will surely be dead if Obama gets another 4 years. Newsweak is essentially dead. The NY Times is having a nasty labor dispute with their unionized writers and the paper is financially in a death spiral. Hope & Change may finish off newspapers.
BIG in Iowa.
Updated schedule appearances:
Obama
Tue/23rd: Florida, Ohio
Wed/24th: Iowa, Colorado, Nevada
Thur/25th: Florida, Virginia, Ohio
Sat/27th: NH
Mon/29th: Florida, Ohio, Virginia
Romney
Tue/23rd: Nevada, Colorado
Wed/24th: Nevada, Iowa
Thur/25th: Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
Fri/26th: Iowa, Ohio
Sat/27th: Florida
Sun/28th: Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
Mon/29th: Iowa, Wisconsin
Tue/30th: Ohio, New Hampshire
Sorry, meant to leave a comment with posting this earlier. I mentioned that if we see Obama heading back to Florida on Monday, they are likely going for the fallback option. The fallback option is taking Florida, holding Pennsylvania and Michigan, and taking just one more state (Nevada or NH most likely). Well, here we are, Obama is headed back to Florida on Monday. It’s getting baked folks. Also, Romney cancelled in Virginia for Sunday, fallback is a triple-header in Ohio. I was thinking he’d do 14 event in Ohio past the last debate, and he’s already at 7. And New Hampshire and Wisconsin, Romney expansion. Compare it to Obama. Stale tarmacs and Universities. They know it’s over by any traditional metric. They are relying upon being able to out super-target voters, but they are not up against McCain’s operation, and this isn’t 2008.
No Tribe – little confused here. Are you saying Mitt Romney cancelled Virgina rally because it isout of reach therefore the fallback is triple header Ohio? I thought Virgina is in the bag?
It is. Romney canceling a Virginia appearence to put in more time in Ohio means good news as far as VA is concerned.
Cancelled VA only because of the storm, I think. At least that’s what I read a few hours ago.
VA is still close, and Romney knows that. It was because of the storm.
Romney canceled VA appearances at request of Gov. McDonnell – didn’t want to tie up first responders needed for storm work.
Just to add to the campaign stop list, Romney is in CO on Nov 3. No further information has been given out so we don’t know time or day or where just yet.
~ Brittany
Wait, what?
Obama is making only ONE stop in four days (in NH)? Nothing at all on Friday or Sunday??
Gotta go on every local radio and TV station, and hope he gets fluffy questions so he can give talking point answers. Risky because every once in a while you get a real journalist like the guy in Denver. Oh, and he has to go on Letterman, and MTV to talk hip-hop, and maybe he’s going to find some time to “thank” that young actress who made the video for him.
I think it’s due to the sickness. He kept talking so much about romnesia that he forgot to take care of his yelling about how much he’s gonna fight.
Obama will be in WI and Co on Tuesday, then Ohio, Ohio on Wednesday.
No Tribe, I do not believe for one second that Obama is going to win Florida. If he thinks he has a chance here, let him waste his time. There is a tremendous enthusiasm gap. Drove through Orlando today before the rally. ZERO Obama signs. None, nada, zip. You don’t see them in Tampa either. But we have a few businesses off the interstates that are flying Romney flags right below Old Glory. I hold very strongly to the notion that Florida will go R+2-4 and Romney will win by 7 or better here.
Thanks for update, I don’t think he can win it either. It’s like McCain going into PA late in ’08.
Thanks for that update, Jeff! It’s great to get first hand accounts like the flag example.
Brittany, The Des Moines Register is the largest in Iowa. They endorsed Jimmy Carter in the 1976 Dem caucus. That endorsment won him the presidency.
Willing to wager that the last week before the election will see RR concentrating on OH WI CO PA MN IA MI VA and no more visits to FL.
He won’t go to MI or PA, I predict, without some polling evidence that he’s in striking distance. One poll in each place may not be enough to justify a trip. But I have no problem in his going 3-4 places a day, he can take a vacation after the election.
Although MI seems a better gamble than PA, with Obama well below 50% in all polls there.
how much of an effect do newspaper endorsements have? has it ever been studied?
Wow, not even an endorsement for Reagan, even in 1984! And a Romney endorsement today. Nice to know they can see the problem, and the man to solve it, so clearly.
Definitely big news.
IMO newspaper endorsement no longer have the sway they once did. Due to new media, social media, and the fact print media is in a death spiral.
The newspapers had one foot in the grave in 2008. The fools endorsing Obama and his depression pushed the papers to where they are close to last rites.
After Obama won in 2008, people with money stopping buying “stuff” and those same people stopped hiring and laid off people. I saw a lot of this. I think some of these papers are hoping Romney is a miracle faith healer. Four more years of Obama and newspapers are dead.
I know people who were laid off from different employers almost a year ago. They were told to call back in early November because they may be rehiring. They did not say it but if Romney wins, they will rehire people.
Perhpas. And perhaps not everywhere though. The SeattleTimes has gone through financial difficulty the last 4 years and are endorsing 0.
Dem reg was embarrassed because bam gave them some skinny on term two agenda then released before press denying them a scoop
This is a big deal because DMR is the paper of record for Iowa DEMOCRATS. It confirms for those dissatisfied with Obama that it’s okay to give Romney a chance.
Early voting already seemed to be trending to allow a Romney win. I think this just clinched it by moving the dial on crossover votes and firming up the advantage with independents.
I agree, so many on the fence and the endorsement was that breeze of change to let them get off and stand on the side of common sense. Thank God,…John
Well guys, not to rain on the parade, but their overall track record is not good..i counted 14 lossers and 9 winners. Also, of the republicans they’ve endorsed over the lifetime of the paper 8 have lost and 4 have won. That sounds more like the kiss of death than annointment
Meh. I don’t think it is about the paper’s ability to look into the crystal ball and pick the eventual winner, It’s more about the paper continuing the MO when it comes to smashing the portrayal that It is inevitable that BO will be re-elected.
I’m all for that but if that MO doesn’t turn into some leads here however small somewher in the swing states, in at least something other than Ras and Gallup, maybe MO doesn’t matter.
Grant you that. Not to get into the issue with modeling of the electorate and the problems at the state level, but Gallup and Rasmussen have been polling daily for the past 4 years ( more than that obviously) and have looked at thousands of voters and their tendencies for this cycle. I believe their models r closer to what the electorate will look like this year. Much of the state level polling is closer to the 2008 electorate..skewing the data. With that said, this analysis by Sean Trende, IMO, really puts it into perspective were this race will end up. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/10/12/how_likely_is_an_electoral_votepopular_vote_split_115749-3.html
With R+2, how important is Iowa anyway?
The reason this is a big deal is not because a bunch of liberal journalists are endorsing Romney. Come on we know what they believe…but MONEY trumps all…and they know their readership…and if the sense the pulse of their readership is anti obama then they would be foolish for money reasons to endorse him. That is why this is big because it means Des Moines is NOT Obama country.
I find it hilarious that the left is claiming it doesn’t matter, but I bet if they endorsed Obama the media would be calling the race for Obama.
8 Trackbacks
[...] FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT IN 40 YEARS: Des Moines Register Endorses Romney. [...]
[...] Romney has made rebuilding the economy his No. 1 campaign priority — and rightly so.” via Battleground Watch blog [...]
[...] FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT IN 40 YEARS: Des Moines Register Endorses Romney. [...]
[...] And a recent poll showings a dead head in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes and the state that hasn’t voted Republican since the Des Moines Register last endoresed the Republican presidential nominee. [...]
[...] The accomplishment is unprecedented for many reasons. For one, it’s the first time all the papers have collectively endorsed the same candidate in over 70 years. Four years ago, candidate Obama received warm endorsements from three of the newspapers, and Romney is the first Republican to be endorsed by the Register in 40 years. [...]
[...] The accomplishment is unprecedented for many reasons. For one, it’s the first time all the papers have collectively endorsed the same candidate in over 70 years. Four years ago, candidate Obama received warm endorsements from three of the newspapers, and Romney is the first Republican to be endorsed by the Register in 40 years. [...]
[...] “The accomplishment is unprecedented for many reasons. For one, it’s the first time all the papers have collectively endorsed the same candidate in over 70 years. Four years ago, candidate Obama received warm endorsements from three of the newspapers, and Romney is the first Republican to be endorsed by the Register in 40 years. [...]
[...] The accomplishment is unprecedented for many reasons. For one, it’s the first time all the papers have collectively endorsed the same candidate in over 70 years. Four years ago, candidate Obama received warm endorsements from three of the newspapers, and Romney is the first Republican to be endorsed by the Register in 40 years. [...]