The Chattanooga Times Free Press has chosen the Libertarian over Mitt Romney. It will not flip the state away from the Republican, but it is worth reading their reasoning.
They begin by asserting their principles:
For more than 80 years, the Free Press editorial page has been a voice for free market economic philosophies, personal responsibility and limited, responsible government. Endorsing the presidential candidate who most thoroughly represents those values has been an important function of the Free Press editorial page for nearly as long.
This is followed by a paragraph in which they explain why this has meant their endorsing Republicans, until now. And then they offer this:
This election, however, the Republican Party nominee has failed to demonstrate a consistent commitment to conservative principles. As a result of his failure to provide clear methods for reducing the size and scope of the federal government, unwillingness to address structural flaws with entitlement programs, reliance on government to intervene in issues best left to families and individuals, and sporadic support of the Constitution and America's founding principles, Mitt Romney is too flawed to earn the Free Press' endorsement.
The editorial is in today's paper. While the editorial does not reference in any way the content of Monday's debate, one might wonder if Mitt's attempt to completely move to the middle might have been the final straw for the editorial board.
Consider again this sentence: This election, however, the Republican Party nominee has failed to demonstrate a consistent commitment to conservative principles.
In Tennessee the endorsement will not make a difference. But might I suggest passing on the editorial to Conservative friends in places like Virginia, NC, FL, AZ, NV, and CO? in those states the reasoning might be persuasive. And there is additional language in the editorial that takes apart the lesser of two evils rationale.
Thought it was worth sharing. And I give a h/t to Sandy on Signal whose Facebook post about the editorial is how I learned about it.