Romney now has editorial opinion (from the Boston Globe and
Herald to the Union Leader) clearly arrayed against him and is
fighting back, contending the Concord Monitor is just a liberal rag
out to get him. McCain folks are happy to point out that Romney did
seek their endorsement and more conservative papers have also come
out in favor of their man McCain but the "anybody but" editorial
stung hard.
While I'm sure every candidate would like to be endorsed by
everyone, everywhere, Romney doesn't have to "contend" the
Concord Monitor is a "liberal rag." Well, actually, it's
not a rag. It's one of the best papers in the state for
local features and they were kind enough to print many pieces I
wrote while at the Associated Press that I didn't believe would get
picked up anywhere. Many great and kind reporters work there.
Still, the editorial page is frequently so over the top you'd think
it was a parody of Daily Kos postings. No Republican partisan or
true blue Granite State conservative would ever go to the
Monitor for voting advice, never mind take the paper's
word over David Keane's or National Review's or all the
many other endorsements he's racked up from, you know, people and
publications who actually share their general philosophy.
Indeed, I doubt very seriously that if you read a week's worth
of Concord Monitors you would still be of the opinion that
this editorial "stung hard." If anything, I would presume it made a
few New Hampshire Republicans supporting other candidates wonder
what it is about Romney that the state's liberal stalwarts are so
afraid of. Union Leader for McCain hurt Romney. The
Concord Monitor only helped, would be my guess.