That's right. Not even our dear friend Brock Olivo.
Having carefully analyzed the four Republican and four Democratic candidates, Missouri's largest newspaper seems to have come to an odd conclusion; they apparently like all of the Democrats, and none of the Republicans.
They can only endorse one Democrat, of course. But it seems they'll be damned if they endorse any of the stumble bums on the GOP side:
Irrespective of their political beliefs, none of the four GOP candidates has demonstrated the seriousness of purpose or the grasp of issues necessary to represent adequately the district's approximately 620,000 residents.
The candidates differ little on the issues. None of them displays any command of policy. Their campaigns are based on platitudes and, in some cases, misinformation. We can't recommend any of them.
That sounds like a pretty accurate description of today's Republican Party, yes.
The Post-Dispatch zings the two Republican front-runners first, calling into question the ethical practices of Club-for-Growth-backed Rep. Bob Onder.
Next, of state Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer:
Candidates shouldn't make stuff up.
Ouch.
The P-D saves their kindest words for our favorite former football phenom:
Finally, there is Brock Olivo, 32, of Columbia, a business consultant and a former University of Missouri football star. His campaign got off to a rough start when he admitted that he had never voted in an election, but he is a very likeable young man. He doesn't know much about the issues, but at least he admits it.
No argument here, though damning with faint praise, indeed.
So, what does the Post-Dispatch think of the Democrats in the field?
Democrats in the 9th District have just the opposite problem. All four of the candidates in the party's primary have at least some grasp of policy.
The newspaper endorses former Missouri House Speaker Steve Gaw, but has many nice things to say about the other Democratic front-runner, State Rep. Judy Baker, as well, and even about Ken Jacob and Lyndon Bode, the two remaining Democratic candidates in the field.
Truly, it is a fine day when an independent media outlet will essentially admit on the record that the weakest of the Democrats is preferable to the best of the Republicans.
(H/T: jannakc)