Des Moines Register to Endorse Obama ?

[EV_Ares]

by Jonathan Singer, Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 04:07:39 PM EST

The Hotline is hearing things...


On Call is hearing that the Des Moines Register endorsements could be imminent, possibly tomorrow, and posted online tonight.

Buzz is that the odds are with Barack Obama...

The paper's support for John Edwards in 2004 catapulted him to a second place caucus finish. This year, though, he competes for the nod with a 'fresher' face in Obama.

Obama's anti-war position could be the deal sealer. Edwards supported the 2002 Iraq war resolution, but has since said the vote was a mistake.

Stay tuned.


This could potentially be a big deal for Obama. As Jennifer Skalka, who has the story for The Hotline, notes, the Register endorsement played no small part in Edwards' late surge in Iowa in January 2004.

Of course this does not seem to be a sealed deal at this point as evidenced by The Hotline passing this along as buzz rather than something more tangible. That said, this is The Hotline, not Bob Novak or Matt Drudge or some other source willing to print rumors the veracity of which are very much in question. So take this report with a grain of salt and, as Skalka says, stay tuned.

Link: http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/12/15/16739/031

[loveangelc]

1. I don't think it's Obama

I'm still saying it's Edwards or a 2nd tier candidate. But I guess I wouldn't be surprised if it were Obama. The only person I would be surprised of it being would be Clinton (and Kucinich, Dodd or Gravel). We'll just have to see.

[K Gardner]

4. If they really want to "shake things up", it'll be Biden... Obama would surprise me,

but it could also be Iowa's way of saying: We don't take kindly to negative campaigning.

[Adelante]

6. Honestly, I'm feeling it's Biden

Not that you can take that to the bank or anything :D

[stray cat]

8. Biden would really be something

[liberalnurse]

10. That would be so sweet!

It would sell a lot of papers too!

[MadBadger]

2. WSJ said the same thing, New Republic thinks its Edwards

Ive been monitoring the website all day.

[itsrobert]

3. Obama is anti-war? Why did he not vote against Kyl/Lieberman?

Wouldn't that be a minimum requirement to be Anti-War? He's more complacent to war.

[cloudythescribbler]

30. This remark overlooks several key factors

First off, Obama has already publically admitted that it was a "mistake" to miss the vote on the Kyl-Lieberman resolution. Let's also remember that campaigning for president means you miss a lot of votes. This one got over 75 Senators supporting it, so it wasn't exactly a cliffhanger/"nailbiter".

I agree that there is much to criticize in Obama's record on the war, but he has been reasonably consistent as a 'pragmatic' dove (moreso than the other two leading contenders). He opposed the war publicly and now calls for a withdrawal over a period of a bit more than one year. I don't think immediate withdrawal is realistic politically -- even Nader in 04 didn't follow the position of the peace movement to a 't' on that.

If you don't care whether someone has any chance of winning in casting your vote, the Kucinich is at least very principled on the war, on the Patriot Act, on SINGLE PAYER/nonprofit health sector & many other issues. In 04, by the time I voted, Kerry was already inevitable (MA primary) so I went for Kucinich. I gather than Obama will still be a serious contender as of Feb 5, so he gets my vote.

Once a given individual becomes the inevitable nominee, the calculus of who to support changes.

What about the possibility that the DMR will make 'no endorsement', but specify several candidates that they like. It was unfortunate that Kucinich was excluded from their debate -- especially after the GOP debate included Keyes.

[1corona4u]

31. They could endorse more than one....

their website specifically says;

Coming tonight: Presidential endorsements.

Endorsements. Plural.

If so, I'd wager Biden and Obama.

[MadBadger]

32. I thought about that...how bout everybody but Clinton!

[1corona4u]

33. Thing is though, It's not like Obama needs a boost, LOL...

he's got a ton of support in Iowa, right?

[MadBadger]

34. yea, but that doesnt mean they will endorse somebody just cuz they need a boost

[1corona4u]

35. No, I didn't really mean that...

just that I don't think it would change that much of the landscape. Given that Obama already has a lot of the support. I'm not sure how fixed people are in their choices though. I guess that remains to be seen....

[MadBadger]

36. It may put him over the top

Im sure there are a lot of people undecided between the likes of Obama-Edwards-Clinton, or a just two. An endorsement I think for lets says Obama, barring any real bad story for him could send him to victory.

[1corona4u]

37. Could be...

[Adelante]

5. I just don't feel like it's Obama

It would be nice if I am wrong.

[maximusveritas]

7. Nah, they'll play it safe and go with Edwards

That'll tighten up the race even more and make it more interesting.
If they endorse Obama, he'll be the clear favorite in Iowa.

[Little Star]

11. They'll play it smart and go Edwards, IMHO. n/t

[1corona4u]

15. They have a totally different panel than they did in 2004 though..

and it's all women, or should I say, 6 of the 7 are, so they may have different priorities...who knows.

[Capn Sunshine]

9. Well according to something from the Wall Street Journal

This says odds favor Obama.

[FrenchieCat]

12. Not getting site from your link......

but although I would want it to be Obama or Biden, it will be Edwards, again....imo

[Bullet1987]

13. It'll be either Obama, Edwards, or Biden

Anyone else would be a surprise for me.

[EV_Ares]

21. Wall Street Journal Article Here

Couldn't get the link you had to work so here is the article in the 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.

From: WSJ

[MadBadger]

14. What time tonight do you think it will come out?

[Pirate Smile]

16. Halperin's blog says "imminent"

http://thepage.time.com/

[Bullet1987]

18. I'm thinking around 8:00 or within the hour...

[MadBadger]

20. 8ET?

[Bullet1987]

23. At least that's what Yepsen said on Hardballz

[ClarkUSA]

17. Why wouldn't it be Edwards again? Why would they go for Obama this time?

I don't get it. Care to explain? :shrug:

[MadBadger]

19. Different editors, Obama didnt vote for IWR?

Im reaching here, but those could be two reasons.

[ClarkUSA]

27. True... but does the Des Moines Register even care about the IWR vote that much?

I would be pleasantly surprised if Obama gets the endorsement but wouldn't be surprised if Edwards gets it again.
Thanks for the reply. :-)

[FrenchieCat]

22. Cause apart from the staff having turned over since the last

presidential primary, Edwards is not the same Edwards either.

[ClarkUSA]

25. Hmmm... in what way?

Wasn't he a born-again populist last time, too? This time, he did go negative on Shillary for a month but has since dialled it back to
reprise his "sunny, positive" image from 2003-4.

The biggest knock against Edwards would be his taking public financing, imo, but I'm not sure The Des Moines Register considers
what effect that would have in the GE into their endorsement consideration.

[1corona4u]

28. Very true...

[EV_Ares]

29. Paragraph from the WSJ article on this:

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.

From: WSJ

[MadBadger]

24. DMR will text me when the announcement comes

[EV_Ares]

26. Will be watching for your post when you get it, thanks.