Its been a few days since I checked in here. Its budget time at the newspaper, so Ive been spending a lot of time lately on one of my favorite tasks numbers crunching.
Did you hear my eyes roll?
Our editorial board wrote an Our View for Tuesdays edition that essentially pointed out that John McCains campaign isnt working well for him right now. Hes failing to connect with independent voters on the economy, and hes focusing too much time trying to tear into Barack Obamas character. Our recently completed online news poll showed that by more than a 2-to-1 ratio, respondents blamed McCain over Obama for the recent negatve tone of the campaign.
Those points could be made by liberals and Democrats who are loving the way the campaign is going at the moment, or by conservatives and Republicans who arent happy with McCain and there seems to be many of both.
Our editorial board opinion wasnt necessarily meant to represent either camp. It was meant to point out that what McCains doing isnt working, and if he wants to be the 44th president, hed better make some changes, and fast.
Times a wastin.
An online reader asked a very fair question of Our View. The reader asked whether the criticisms of McCain in the piece should be considered the Times endorsement I assume of Obama in the presidential race.
The short answer is, no. The reader should not consider it an endorsement of any candidate.
The somewhat longer answer is that our editorial board hasnt decided whether to make any endorsement in the presidential race. I am leaning against doing so.
Why? I think the small, local newspapers opinions and abilities to point out candidates viewpoints on important issues provide a valuable service in local elections. And the Times will make endorsements in the two state Assembly races and one congressional race in our readership area.
But in a national election where the candidates are so well known and information is incredibly accessible, Im not sure our role is nearly as purposeful.
There are other viewpoints, and I see some merit in the Times giving a presidential endorsement. But Id like your opinion, too. Post a comment with your thoughts. They will be helpful as we decide.
Did you hear my eyes roll?
Our editorial board wrote an Our View for Tuesdays edition that essentially pointed out that John McCains campaign isnt working well for him right now. Hes failing to connect with independent voters on the economy, and hes focusing too much time trying to tear into Barack Obamas character. Our recently completed online news poll showed that by more than a 2-to-1 ratio, respondents blamed McCain over Obama for the recent negatve tone of the campaign.
Those points could be made by liberals and Democrats who are loving the way the campaign is going at the moment, or by conservatives and Republicans who arent happy with McCain and there seems to be many of both.
Our editorial board opinion wasnt necessarily meant to represent either camp. It was meant to point out that what McCains doing isnt working, and if he wants to be the 44th president, hed better make some changes, and fast.
Times a wastin.
An online reader asked a very fair question of Our View. The reader asked whether the criticisms of McCain in the piece should be considered the Times endorsement I assume of Obama in the presidential race.
The short answer is, no. The reader should not consider it an endorsement of any candidate.
The somewhat longer answer is that our editorial board hasnt decided whether to make any endorsement in the presidential race. I am leaning against doing so.
Why? I think the small, local newspapers opinions and abilities to point out candidates viewpoints on important issues provide a valuable service in local elections. And the Times will make endorsements in the two state Assembly races and one congressional race in our readership area.
But in a national election where the candidates are so well known and information is incredibly accessible, Im not sure our role is nearly as purposeful.
There are other viewpoints, and I see some merit in the Times giving a presidential endorsement. But Id like your opinion, too. Post a comment with your thoughts. They will be helpful as we decide.
