Newspaper Endorsements in the 2012 Primary Campaign

In the closing month of the campaign, many newspapers make endorsements.  Newspaper endorsements may cause a significant difference in less-publicized races where voters are not familiar with the candidates or the specifics of a ballot initiative, but at the presidential level they probably do not have much impact.  That is not to say a newspaper endorsement has no effect.  When candidates are striving for credibility in the pre-primary period or the early primaries, a newspaper endorsement can have an impact.  Campaign ads often trumpet newspaper endorsements.  A newspaper's endorsement is generally decided by the editorial board, although sometimes the publisher weighs in or makes the decision.  Endorsements are often run in the Sunday paper to reach the largest audience.  To further help their readers, a number of papers make available video or audio recordings of ed. board meetings.  Some newspapers have a policy of not making endorsements, at least at the presidential level.  Examining the reasoning used in various papers' endorsements can offer clear insights into the candidates' strengths and weaknesses. 
See also Endorsements from 2007-08   |  2012 General Election Endorsements


updated March 31, 2012  

National
National Review - not Gingrich


Iowa Caucuses (Jan. 3, 2012)
Ron Paul
The Daily Iowan ...the University of Iowa student newspaper (Dec. 12, 2011)

Mitt Romney
Quad-City Times (Jan. 1, 2012)
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier (Jan. 1, 2012...more of a push than an official endorsement)
Iowa City Press-Citizen (Dec. 28, 2011)
Des Moines Register (Dec. 18, 2011)
Sioux City Journal (Dec. 4, 2011)


New Hampshire Primary (Jan. 10, 2012)
Newt Gingrich
New Hampshire Union Leader (Nov. 27, 2011)

Jon Huntsman
Laconia Citizen (Jan. 6, 2012)
Boston Globe [MA] (Jan. 6, 2012)
Eagle Times [Claremont] (Jan. 5, 2012)
The New Hampshire ...UNH student newspaper (Jan. 5, 2012)
Monadnock Ledger-Transcript (Dec. 28, 2011)
Concord Monitor (Dec. 22, 2011)
Keene Sentinel (Dec. 18, 2011)
The Valley News (Dec. 18, 2011)

Mitt Romney
Eagle-Tribune [North Andover, MA] (Jan. 6, 2012)
Nashua Telegraph (Jan. 5, 2012)
The Weirs Times (Dec. 29, 2011)
Boston Herald [MA] (Dec. 28, 2011)
Conway Daily Sun (Dec. 22, 2011)
Seacoast Media Group - Portsmouth Herald, Hampton Union and Exeter News-Letter (Dec. 18, 2011)
Foster's Daily Democrat (Dec. 4, 2011)


South Carolina Primary (Jan. 21, 2012)
Jon Huntsman
The State [Columbia] (Jan. 15, 2012)...out Jan. 16

Mitt Romney
The Post and Courier (Jan. 20, 2012)
The Herald [Rock Hill] (Jan. 19, 2012)
The State [Columbia] (Jan. 19, 2012)
Spartanburg Herald-Journal (Jan. 17, 2012)
Greenville News (Jan. 15, 2012)
Charlotte Observer [NC] (Jan. 15, 2012)


Florida Primary (Jan. 31, 2012)
Newt Gingrich
Tampa Tribune (Jan. 29, 2012) +

Mitt Romney
Orlando Sentinel (Jan. 25, 2012) +
Pensacola News Journal (Jan. 22, 2012) +
Tampa Bay Times (Jan. 17, 2012) +

Ron Paul
The Independent Florida Alligator  ...University of Florida (Gainesville) student newspaper (Jan. 25, 2012) +


Nevada Caucuses (Feb. 4, 2012)
Mitt Romney
Reno Gazette-Journal (Feb. 3, 2012)
Las Vegas Review-Journal (Jan. 29, 2012)


Colorado Caucuses (Feb. 7, 2012)
Mitt Romney
Denver Post (Feb. 3, 2012)


Arizona Primary (Feb. 28, 2012)
Mitt Romney
Arizona Republic (Feb. 24, 2012) +

Michigan Primary (Feb. 28, 2012)
Mitt Romney
Midland Daily News (Feb. 26, 2012) +
Detroit Free Press (Feb. 23, 2012) +
Grand Rapids Press (Feb. 22, 2012) +
Detroit News (Feb. 22, 2012) +
Oakland Press (Feb. 21, 2012) +

Ron Paul
Arab American News (Feb. 24, 2012)


Super Tuesday (March 6, 2012)
Georgia
Mitt Romney
Albany Herald (March 3, 2012)
Savannah Morning News (March 1, 2012)

Ohio
Mitt Romney
New Philadelphia Times-Reporter (March 4, 2012)
Cincinnati Enquirer (March 3, 2012)
Cleveland Plain-Dealer (March 3, 2012)
Columbus Dispatch (Feb. 5, 2012)

Oklahoma
Mitt Romney
The Oklahoman (Dec. 18, 2011)


Alabama Primary (March 13, 2012)
Mitt Romney
Times Daily (Florence) (March 9, 2012)
Birmingham News (March 7, 2012)


Illinois Primary (March 20, 2012)
Mitt Romney
Peoria Journal Star (March 18, 2012)
Chicago Tribune (March 17, 2012; online March 16)
Daily Herald [Arlington Heights] (March 4, 2012)


Wisconsin Primary (April 3, 2012)
Mitt Romney
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (April 1, 2012; online March 31) +