Odds are on Obama to Get Iowa Paper's Endorsement (Des Moines Register)

[MadBadger]

THE WEEK AHEAD
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119768815672831249.html?mod=googlenews_wsj


Politics
Odds Are on Obama to Get
Iowa Paper's Endorsement
By CHRISTOPHER COOPER
December 15, 2007; Page A2

In an age of bloggers and bulk email, some may find it refreshing to come across an ink-stained monolith with the power to make or break a campaign. A Democratic presidential endorsement from the Des Moines Register is imminent, probably coming Sunday or a week hence.

Though its circulation is only about half the 500,000 of the 1960s, the Register remains the only statewide newspaper in Iowa and a political powerhouse. With its tradition of liberalism, it is particularly influential among Democrats.

The newspaper's editorial board, which makes the endorsements, operates separately from the newsroom. Even David Yepsen, the Register's esteemed political columnist, claims not to know what will happen. In a town that consumes political information like popcorn, this is the best-kept secret around.

Those sifting for clues make hay out of the fact that Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp publicly feted the paper's editorial staff at a local eatery recently and that Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware was called in twice for interviews. David Axelrod, chief strategist for the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, sat in for his candidate's interview with the board a week or so ago. "It went well -- or at least I think it did," he said. "They're absolutely inscrutable."

Political operatives credit the paper's endorsement with raising the campaign of then-obscure North Carolina Sen. John Edwards in 2004. He went on to place a strong second in the Iowa caucus and won a spot on the presidential ticket. But history may not repeat itself. Even Edwards aides say it is unlikely he will win the prize this time around.

Since 2004, the paper's editorial board has undergone heavy turnover. That six of the seven in the group are women hasn't been lost on political observers, who wonder if this might give Mrs. Clinton an edge.

But speculation tilts heavily toward Mr. Obama, who opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. Some think the Register prefers to back candidates who aren't establishment favorites, a description that may apply more to Mr. Obama. After all, everyone likes to play kingmaker.

[JI7]

1. huh ? there was another article saying Edwards will likely get it

[MadBadger]

2. I saw that one from New Republic was it?

[JI7]

4. not sure, but the tone of this is very different from the other one

well, we will know in about a day.

[snowbear]

5. Yep.. here's the one from New Republic if anyone hasn't seen it..

Last sentence of article:

"Update: Okay, maybe a longer shot than I thought. Just got word from a reasonably informed source--someone not in a position to know with certainty, but in a position to know what various Democratic campaign insiders expect--that it's going to be Edwards again. We'll find out Sunday...

--Noam Scheiber

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2007/12/14/what-if-the-des-moines-register-endorses-biden.aspx

[Adelante]

12. That's what rival campaigns were saying, the NR said

I'd still be surprised if it's not Edwards, though.

[snowbear]

3. Wow.. that's completely different from the info the dude @ New Republic had...

I guess we'll know how much New Republic's "unofficial inside info" really knew by Sunday..

[MadBadger]

6. Hopefully we can find out tomorrow/today.

[snowbear]

7. Sounds like the Clinton staffers are trying to land them too..

"Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp publicly feted the paper's editorial staff at a local eatery recently"

Nothing like being feted in the local eatery...

~ ~ ~

[MadBadger]

8. I read tonight in another article that they all have been feverishly campaigning for the endorsement

for months now.

[snowbear]

9. Hmm... must've told them to order "anything on the menu" at that diner!

....

[FrenchieCat]

10. It's gonna be Edwards........

Predictable, even though he's changed most of his stance since the last time, the turnover in staff helped them forget. :boring:

[gateley]

11. I'm surprised it hasn't been leaked. nt