Romney, Nelson, Yes on Retention Top Once-Powerful Newspaper Endorsements | Sunshine State News

October 28, 2012 - 7:00pm

The majority of Florida newspapers have given their endorsement to Republican Mitt Romney, with national attention going to the opinions cast from the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The Tribune papers four years ago were behind President Obama (as was Florida Today, which also flipped), but this time expressed little confidence that Obama would show any improvement in his fiscal management of the federal economy.

Of endorsements already in, the Florida Times-Union, Florida Today, Naples Daily News, Pensacola News Journal and Tampa Tribune have also voiced their opinion for the challenger.

The Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald have remained with the incumbent.

(Scroll down to see a paper-by-paper list of endorsements.)

There are many people who criticize the pomposity of newspapers to weigh in on the political races, often from those backing the candidate that wasn't endorsed.

Still, in part because of such complaints, a number of papers choose no longer to make candidate recommendations. The Daytona Beach-based Halifax Media Group -- owner of the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Gainesville Sun, Lakeland Ledger, Winter Haven News Chief, Panama City News Herald, Northwest Florida Daily News, Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Ocala Star Banner -- asked its properties to make such a decision following the August primary.

The Ledger editorial board, in accepting the view of its boss, wrote that the decision was "to prevent a perception of bias in political races." As with many of the other Halifax papers, the Ledger has chimed in on proposed amendments to Florida's Constitution.

At the same time, you have to wonder about newspaper editorial boards that remain in a pre-2000 mindset, holding back their endorsements until the final week of the campaign now that most voters cast ballots weeks earlier through absentee balloting and early voting.

Several editorial boards were also hesitant in a number of backyard races to make endorsements.

The Orlando Sentinel literally took a pass on the U.S. House District 5 contest featuring Democrat Alan Graysons bid to return to Washington.

The Central Florida paper did back U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, yet her hometown paper, the Times-Union, opted against making a recommendation for the seat.

Meanwhile, the Palm Beach Post decided to make no recommendation in the contest between Adam Hasner and Lois Frankel, saying neither offers serious proposals.

Statewide, the editorial boards at newspapers were more in line with the old guard of the left in the U.S. Senate contest between Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Orlando and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Naples.

Even the Tampa Tribune backed Nelson, saying in part that Mack has run an uninspiring campaign.

The print boards were in line in their support to retain the three Florida Supreme Court justices that are up for election.

As for the 11 constitutional amendments before voters, the brain power for the papers were more scattered.

The Miami Herald, Florida Times-Union, Palm Beach, Pensacola News Journal, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers and Tampa Bay Times joined the Florida League of Women Voters in opposing every amendment proposed by the Republican-dominated state Legislature.

But others found merit with the tax-saving proposals or some of the socially focused proposals.

How they opined:

Miami Herald

President: Obama

U.S. Senate: Nelson

U.S. Congress District 26: Garcia by default

U.S. Congress District 27: Ros-Lehtinen has served with distinction

Constitutional Amendments: No on all

Supreme Court Justice Retention: Yes on all three

Bradenton Herald

President: No recommendation being made

U.S. Congressional District 17: Rooney support of agriculture serves East Manatee interest

Constitutional Amendments: Yes on 2, 9, 10, 11. No on 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12

Citrus County Chronicle

U.S. Senate: Nelson

U.S. Congressional 11: Rich Nugent