Iowa's Largest Paper Endorses Edwards (Des Moines Register)

[chimpymustgo]

Jan 11, 7:43 AM EST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa's largest newspaper endorsed North Carolina Sen. John Edwards for the Democratic presidential nomination while three other Iowa newspapers went for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in weekend editions.

The Des Moines Register backed Edwards and called him a cut above several well-qualified candidates despite the fact that he doesn't have as much experience as other Democrats.

"John Edwards is one of those rare, naturally gifted politicians who doesn't need a long record of public service to inspire confidence in his abilities," the newspaper said in Sunday's editions.

The Register wrote that the major contenders aren't far apart on repealing the Bush tax cuts and redirecting the money into health care and education and conducting a foreign policy that engages rather than isolates other nations.

Howard Dean's slogan is to "take the country back," the Register said, "but it is Edwards who most eloquently and believably expresses this point of view."

-snip-

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EDWARDS_PLEDGE?SITE=IADES&SECTION=HOME

*******

This is just unbelievably fantastic news. Go Edwards!

[ludwigb]

1. 2nd wind for Edwards?

I figured he was dropping out soon, but if he can suprise in Iowa, who knows? I'm torn because I like Edwards but don't think he can come back and I'd like to see the field winnow a bit.

[tedoll78]

2. Put on your tinfoil hats, folks -

A friend told me his theory behind the endorsement - they're propping Edwards up so that he stays in the race longer to divide the vote in later primary events.. :tinfoilhat:

[chimpymustgo]

3. That's been Edwards' gameplan from Day 1. Respectable showings

in IA and NH - then head South and make his stand.

Who is supposedly "propping Edwards up"?

[tedoll78]

7. The newspaper endorsement.

.

[AP]

19. Have you read the endorsement? It's good. And it's true.

http://desmoinesregister.com/opinion/stories/c2125555/23214048.html

[spooky3]

10. I'm not sure he's expecting much in NH, is he?

He hasn't spent much time there, and it's the back yard of Dean, with close neighbors Kerry and Lieberman, who are much better known.

I thought he was focusing on Iowa and SC, and then would reassess.

[ludwigb]

4. Occurred to me as well...

But it's just too conspiracy minded. There are more than enough good reasons to endorse Edwards. Still, I think a continued Edwards campaign will draw support away from Clark and Gephardt, the apparent anti-Deans.

[LuminousX]

16. No... that is just talk to disparage the endorsement

[AP]

18. On This Week, Yepsen, their political reporter, said that the Reg is a

progressive, left of center paper.

What does the Reg care what happens after Iowa anyway?

[anti-bush]

20. Actually

They care because they want to see John Edwards win the presidency. This was not an endorsement motivated by trying to jockey position for third to make some other candidate do better.

This is a clear endorsement for Edwards, and as Paul Anger said on CNN this morning, they picked Edwards because he is clearly better than the rest, will be the best candidate to send up against George Bush in November, and will be the best for this country.



Edit: typo

[cthrumatrix]

5. what corporations own the Iowa newspapers than we might be able to

understand who they endorse and why

[maddezmom]

6. congrats to Edwards and his supporters n/t

[Padraig18]

8. Congratulations to the Edwards' campaign!

A great endorsement from a well-respected newspaper! :toast:

[ShimokitaJer]

9. Good for Edwards

I think he is a great candidate, and he was truly inspiring in his speech last night. He deserves more good news than he's been getting and this is a great start.

And all you conspiracy theorists can stick a copy of the Sunday DesMoines Register up your asses. Is that how you explain any deviation from your worldview: someone must be trying to manipulate the race? Edwards is a strong candidate and he has been given far too little attention by the media. Is it so inconceivable that the Iowans who get to see him firsthand actually like what they see?

[spooky3]

12. tell us what you really think, ShimokitaJer! :-)

I have never met him but have the feeling that he comes across very well in a meet-and-greet setting too--Clintonesque in that regard. People I know who have met Clinton say he gives you the impression he'd rather be talking to you than anywhere else.

[BootinUp]

11. This is the same paper that put on las debate- editor on CSPAN

Now.

I told youse guys Edwards won that debate. Apparently he did so well, that the paper re-evaluated him and decided Edwards time is now.

[spooky3]

13. we shoulda listened to ya, Jim4Wes!

[chimpymustgo]

14. Register editor on C-SPAN - LOVING John Edwards.

Great match-up between Edwards and AWOL.

[LuminousX]

15. Way to go, Edwards!

[chimpymustgo]

17. This endorsement is great, and there's a debate tonight.

I hope Edwards makes his usual strong appearance, and Iowans give him a good long look.

[neuvocat]

21. So much for Harkin's endorsement.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

22. Huh?

Anyway, congrats to Senator Edwards, he is doing great in Iowa!

I met some very nice Edwards people at the Santa Cruz Caucus yesterday, and they were thrilled to hear my stories about Iowa and how many undecideds are thinking about Edwards.