Yesterday there was a flood of new newspaper endorsements for Hillary Clinton across the February 5th states. Those endorsements included the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Montgomery Advertiser, the Hartford Courant, and the Salt Lake Tribune.
Hillary also picked up the endorsement of former New Mexico Governor Bruce King and his wife, as well as John Wertheim, former chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party. She already has the endorsements of Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez.
Here are clips from some of Hillary's new endorsements...
The Hartford Courant
The Democrats have had a tendency over the past quarter-century to nominate presidential candidates who were better suited to holding Cabinet posts. This year the party has two candidates — U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — with presidential timber.
We believe Mrs. Clinton is the more seasoned and better prepared of the two, and endorse her in the Feb. 5 Connecticut presidential primary.
The 2008 Democratic contest is a remarkable coming-of-age for the party and the country, with the first viable female and African American candidates and, though he has bowed out, a highly qualified Latino candidate in Gov. Bill Richardson. The door is finally open, mirabile dictu, but it is still ability, and not the accidents of race and gender, that should be the basis on which we select our leaders.
Sen. Obama has brought an inspiring energy to the contest, a youth-and-vigor excitement reminiscent of John F. Kennedy's campaign in 1960. But Mr. Kennedy also brought the experience of 14 years in Congress. At a similar career point, if not before, Sen. Obama will be a force to be reckoned with.
The Montgomery Advertiser
What we believe they will get with Clinton is someone with a powerful intellect and an amazing grasp of policies and details necessary to governing. It is clear that she has used her time in the Senate to immerse herself in many foreign and domestic policy issues, and her breadth of knowledge comes across in debates and her time on the political stump.
She also has a forceful personality necessary to effective governing. While some would have the public believe that such a personality is somehow improper in a woman, we would suggest that it is something any president must have, man or woman, to successfully lead.
Based on her grasp of issues, her impressive work ethic and her personality, the Montgomery Advertiser recommends Hillary Clinton to voters in the Alabama Democratic primary on Feb. 5.
Memphis Commercial Appeal
There are few differences among Democratic candidates about how to improve the lives of Americans. All see a strong role for government in such areas as health care and the economy. All see the need for a more progressive system of taxation and advocate sensible immigration reform. They all are making plans for a speedy and orderly return of our troops from the quagmire in Iraq and better treatment of the veterans of that and other conflicts.
Clinton, however, has the experience needed to step into the Oval Office at this critical time and get these jobs done. As the First Lady of Arkansas for 12 years and as a close adviser to Bill Clinton during a successful eight years as president, when the economy was roaring and the budget was balanced, Hillary Clinton was deeply immersed and active in such issues as education and health care reform.
As New York's junior senator, she has demonstrated fortitude, strength of character and an understanding of foreign affairs that would serve her well as this country's commander-in-chief.
The Salt Lake Tribune
With this country bogged down in two wars, burdened by a crushing deficit and hurtling toward recession, experience and sheer toughness are essential in a presidential nominee.
We believe Sen. Hillary Clinton has an abundance of both - as Sen. Barack Obama does not - and should be the Democratic Party's nominee to reclaim the White House.
Clinton offers a unique background in government. She has been an active two-term senator, but the singularity of her political experience does not come solely from her work in the Senate, but also from her role as first lady to former President Bill Clinton. By her own description, and there is ample supporting evidence, she was her husband's closest adviser, involved in major policy decisions - an unofficial vice president of sorts - for eight years.
As first lady, she was handed the monumental task of formulating a comprehensive health-care reform proposal. Her complex, sweeping plan failed in Congress, but the effort gave her a broad background in what has become a national crisis. Her current health plan is more market-driven than its predecessor, but it would require insurers to provide coverage to anyone who can pay the premium, regardless of existing health problems.