The New York Times is reporting that New Hampshire’s largest newspaper, the crazy-conservative Union Leader, will not be endorsing Republican candidate Donald Trump.
“The man is a liar, a bully, a buffoon,” wrote Joseph W. McQuaid, the Union Leader publisher, of Mr. Trump in a signed editorial. “He denigrates any individual or group that displeases him. He has dishonored military veterans and their families, made fun of the physically frail, and changed political views almost as often as he has changed wives.”
Rather than picking between what Mr. McQuaid termed “the lesser of two evils,” The Union Leader has bestowed its endorsement on Gary Johnson, the Libertarian nominee for president. Notably, the paper made clear that it was backing the entire Libertarian ticket, which includes William Weld, a former Massachusetts governor who is familiar to some New Hampshire voters.
The Times wonders aloud if this endorsement may peel away votes from Trump and have an actual impact on the four electoral New Hampshire votes that, as of right now, Hillary Clinton is projected to win. I have my doubts on how much impact newspaper endorsements have these days; but the Times points out that people see the front page of the Union Leader everywhere in New Hampshire and that could have some kind of impact. It’s fun to watch the Republican establishment run around inside of a house of mirrors, while pointing fingers at everyone it sees. However, remember, the Union Leader also thought Newt Gingrich was going to unseat Obama in 2012.