South Carolina's largest-circulation newspaper, The State (based in Columbia), has endorsed John McCain in the upcoming Republican Primary. From their Editorial Board:
Clearly, the best Republican candidate to lead our nation at this time is U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona. He has the necessary experience, not just in time served, but in the quality of understanding he exhibits across the board.The value of his experience is multiplied by his integrity and independence. He is a slave to no ideology or faction. Not only will he work with anyone who wants to do the right thing anytime, he is usually the driving force at the head of coalitions to get the job done -- from the Gang of 14 that broke Senate gridlock and paved the way for the confirmation of conservative judges to his principled leadership on campaign finance reform. He knew the political risk he took leading the quest for a comprehensive solution to illegal immigration, but he believed securing our borders was too important a priority not to try.
Read the rest at the link above. Readers may notice that several of the reasons the Editors give for supporting McCain are the very issues conservatives hold against him. The "Gang of 14" certainly did NOT "pave[] the way for the confirmation of conservative judges," - it subverted Frist's threat to amend Senate rules and outlaw judicial filibusters, which would have assured all of those nominees a floor vote which several never got under the "14" plan. McCain's drive for campaign finance reform may well have been "principled" - as long as the principle in question isn't freedom of speech. And, while there were some useful reforms in McCain's proposed immigration bill, "securing our borders" was conspicuously NOT among them.
Reading The State's endorsement made me wonder if Fred Thompson wrote it for them.
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Filed under:
2008 Presidential Race, McCain, Media, Primaries, Republican, South Carolina
Tags: endorsement, McCain, newspapers, presidential campaign, primaries, Republicans, South Carolina
Comments (2)
I was kind of cheering on M... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Alan Orfi | January 13, 2008 12:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I was kind of cheering on McCain's candidacy because I couldn't imagine Republicans actually settling on him as the nominee. I figured Huckabee would look a lot more conservative paired with McCain in a two-horse race. I expected Republicans to begin having the same "buyers remorse" about McCain that they had for Romney and Huckabee, but it doesn't seem to have happened yet. If he wins Michigan and SC, then it would appear that Rudy is the only one left who can stop him.
If Romney does not win Michigan, I think he's finished and the same goes for Huckabee in South Carolina. We will learn a lot over the next six days.
1. Posted by Alan Orfi | January 13, 2008 12:41 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2008 12:41
2. Posted by Jim Addison | January 13, 2008 1:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
South Carolina polls have literally been all over the place. In the spring, Giuliani led while also being the national frontrunner. During the summer, Thompson led here before his long delay in jumping in dampened his support. Romney held the lead briefly thereafter. Huckabee surged to the front after Iowa, but McCain took over after New Hampshire.
All five of the top tier have led here at some point, and all after some other favorable publicity. This state is in play, and the winner could be the candidate with the best press the three or four days before the primary.
2. Posted by Jim Addison | January 13, 2008 1:56 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2008 13:56