Surprising no one, the New York Times tomorrow will print its endorsement of Barack Obama for re-election. The Des Moines Register, however, shocked quite a few with its endorsement today of Mitt Romney, the paper’s first GOP endorsement for president since 1972.
DMR hasn't endorsed a Republican since Richard Nixon in 1972
— Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) October 28, 2012
The last Republican that Iowa's @DMRegister was Nixon in 1972 http://t.co/mj7bEa9k
— Sarah Boxer (@Sarah_Boxer) October 28, 2012
Des Moines Register endorses Romney he "offers fresh economic vision". In 2008 general same paper endorsed Obama.
— Jessica Yellin (@JessicaYellin) October 28, 2012
Des Moines Register endorsed 12 Rs and 11 Ds in last century. Last R to earn Register stamp? Nixon in 1972. Paper picked Obama in 2008.
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) October 28, 2012
For the first time in 40 years, swing-state Iowa's biggest paper – Des Moines Register – has endorsed a Republican, Mitt Romney, for POTUS
— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) October 28, 2012
Obama recently told Des Moines Register: "I want your endorsement. You'll feel better when you give it."
— Bob Cusack (@BobCusack) October 28, 2012
“Romney has made rebuilding the economy his No. 1 campaign priority — and rightly so,” the Register’s editors conclude, adding, “The president’s best efforts to resuscitate the stumbling economy have fallen short. Nothing indicates it would change with a second term in the White House.”
DMR: "His record on the economy the past four years does not suggest he would lead in the direction the nation must go in the next 4 years"
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) October 28, 2012
Obama for America Iowa Communications Director Erin Seidler missed it by that much.
Considering today's @DMRegister editorial on Akin, Mourdock, and Romney's extreme position on womens health, hard to imagine DMR endorsement
— Erin Seidler (@eeseidler) October 27, 2012
@eeseidler tweet too soon?
— Shawn McCoy (@warroomalerts) October 28, 2012
@eeseidler @DMRegister *points and laughs*
— Aileen Wuornos 2016 (@MavisGary) October 28, 2012
Guess U got that wrong MT @eeseidler Considering todays @DMRegister editorial on…Romneys extreme position..hard to imagine DMR endorsement
— Justin LoFranco (@JayLow) October 28, 2012
@eeseidler Hahahahahhahahahahahahaha *cough* hahahahaha *wheeze* hahahahhaha — *choke* — *burble* I think I just wrenched my mingus muscle
— Doug Ross (@directorblue) October 28, 2012
Was the paper’s side-by-side photo comparison of death-stare Obama and smiling Romney on Wednesday a hint of things to come?
Newspaper endorsements are pretty useless. The only impact is if it's a surprise. DMR endorsing Mitt = Surprise.
— Drew McCoy (@DrewMTips) October 28, 2012
The endorsement is a surprise, especially to the Obama camp, but just like the polls, newspaper endorsements don’t mean anything (until they do). Just ask the Left.
Would you rather be up four in Virginia or get endorsed by a newspaper in Iowa?
— Adam Serwer (@AdamSerwer) October 28, 2012
in other news, people in Iowa have been voting for over a month
— Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) October 28, 2012
DMR endorsed Hillary in 08. Mattered not at all as Iowa went for Obama in primary.
— Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) October 28, 2012
Winning the DMR endorsement was crucial for 2008's Iowa caucus winner, President Hillary Clinton.
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) October 28, 2012
As Hillary Clinton knows, nothing locks down Iowa like the DMR endorsement.
— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) October 28, 2012
Newspaper endorsements are probably going to decide this thing. #InSomeAlternateUniverse
— Roger Simon (@politicoroger) October 28, 2012
Howard Fineman is speechless … sort of.
https://twitter.com/howardfineman/statuses/262365020405497857