John McCain’s campaign has been undergoing something of a revival lately.
After a summer and fall when he kept falling in the polls and falling behind in fundraising, McCain has actually gotten some good press lately. And, yesterday, he received three newspaper endorsements from papers that cover both Iowa and New Hampshire.
First, in Iowa, the Des Moines Register endorsed McCain:
McCain would enter the White House with deep knowledge of national-security and foreign-policy issues. He knows war, something we believe would make him reluctant to start one. He’s also a fierce defender of civil liberties. As a survivor of torture, he has stood resolutely against it. He pledges to start rebuilding America’s image abroad by closing the Guantanamo prison and beginning judicial proceedings for detainees.
McCain has his flaws, too, of course. He can be hot-tempered, a trait that’s not helpful in conducting diplomacy. At 71, his age is a concern. The editorial board disagrees with him on a host of issues, especially his opposition to abortion rights and gay marriage. McCain foresees a “long, hard and difficult” deployment of troops in Iraq. The Register’s board has called for withdrawal as soon as it’s safely possible.
But with McCain, Americans would know what they’re getting. He doesn’t parse words. And on tough calls, he usually lands on the side of goodness — of compassion for illegal immigrants, of concern for the environment for future generations.
The force of John McCain’s moral authority could go a long way toward restoring Americans’ trust in government and inspiring new generations to believe in the goodness and greatness of America.
Then, in New Hampshire, McCain received endorsements from the Manchester Union-Leader:
In its editorial endorsing Mitt Romney for President, National Review mentioned the Iraq war only once (to praise McCain’s judgment there) and entirely brushed over foreign policy. We have great respect for that magazine’s editors, but we disagree with their decision that executive experience trumps foreign policy experience in this election.
There is no greater issue in this election than keeping America safe from its enemies.
Romney and other Republicans might have similar foreign policy agendas, but none has the proven judgment on foreign affairs that Sen. McCain has. America needs a leader whose own judgment in matters of war and peace can be trusted implicity. John McCain is that leader.
and the Boston Globe
In 2000, McCain’s insurgent candidacy almost succeeded in stopping the George W. Bush juggernaut. This time around, McCain is running further back in the pack of candidates. Yet Republican voters in New Hampshire would be wise to consider this: Of all the party’s candidates, McCain has the greatest potential appeal to independent voters.
The Arizona senator is running for president at a treacherous time. Iraq is in flames. The economy is weak. American voters are worried about their futures, and about their government’s ability to enforce its own laws. A general election campaign with John McCain in it is more likely to turn on substance, not demagoguery.
As a lawmaker and as a candidate, McCain has done more than his share to transcend partisanship and promote an honest discussion of the problems facing the United States. He deserves the opportunity to represent his party in November’s election.
How much will these newspaper endorsements matter in the end ? Frankly, I don’t think they’ll change votes by themselves, but they give McCain some good press and an opportunity to gain if and when one of the other candidates stumble.
