Iowa Paper Endorses Edwards
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DES MOINES — The Des Moines Register, Iowa’s dominant newspaper, endorsed Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina as the best choice in the state’s Democratic presidential caucuses on Jan. 19.
The paper, in an editorial today, said that among the Democratic contenders, Edwards has “most eloquently and believably” expressed the party’s view that President Bush’s policies favor the wealthy.
Saying that Bush’s policies “flow from the conviction that all Americans will gain if business is largely unfettered and if investors are better rewarded,” the paper added: “What a clear and attractive choice an Edwards vs. Bush fall campaign would offer.”
Edwards is running fourth in recent polls of likely caucus- goers, and his campaign hoped the endorsement would boost him to at least a third-place finish.
But the Register’s choices have not fared well in the most recent competitive Democratic caucuses.
In 2000, the paper backed former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey; Vice President Al Gore won easily. In 1988, it supported Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois; the winner was Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri.
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