Newspaper endorsements in the United States presidential election, 2008
Encyclopedia
During the 2008 United States presidential election, newspapers, magazines, and other publications made general election endorsements
. As of November 4, 2008, Barack Obama
had received more than twice as many publication endorsements as John McCain
; in terms of circulation, the ratio was more than 3 to 1, according to the detailed tables below.
According to Editor & Publisher
magazine, as of November 3, 2008, there were 273 newspapers endorsing Barack Obama compared to 172 for John McCain. By comparison, the magazine reported that before election day in 2004, John Kerry
received 213 endorsements compared to 205 for George W. Bush
.
UWIRE, in its Presidential Scorecard, reported that Barack Obama led John McCain by 86 to 2 in college newspaper endorsements, as of November 4.
The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
reported that Barack Obama led John McCain by 57 to 0 in endorsements among its 123 member newspapers as of October 31, 2008.
Political endorsement
Political endorsement is the action of publicly declaring one's personal or group's support of a candidate for elected office.In the case of a 4 or 5 party system, where one of the parties has a 15 to 20% predicted electoral support, just prior to the election, the official representative of the...
. As of November 4, 2008, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
had received more than twice as many publication endorsements as John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
; in terms of circulation, the ratio was more than 3 to 1, according to the detailed tables below.
According to Editor & Publisher
Editor & Publisher
Editor & Publisher is a monthly magazine covering the North American newspaper industry. It is based in New York City. E&P calls itself "America's Oldest Journal Covering the Newspaper Industry" and describes itself on its website as "the authoritative journal covering all aspects of the North...
magazine, as of November 3, 2008, there were 273 newspapers endorsing Barack Obama compared to 172 for John McCain. By comparison, the magazine reported that before election day in 2004, John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
received 213 endorsements compared to 205 for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
UWIRE, in its Presidential Scorecard, reported that Barack Obama led John McCain by 86 to 2 in college newspaper endorsements, as of November 4.
The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
The Association of Alternative Newsmedia is a diverse group of covering every major metropolitan area and other less-populated regions of North America. AAN members have a combined weekly circulation of over 6.5 million as well as a print readership of nearly 17 million active, educated and...
reported that Barack Obama led John McCain by 57 to 0 in endorsements among its 123 member newspapers as of October 31, 2008.
| Publications | Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in... |
McCain John McCain John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election.... |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publications | Circulation | Publications | Circulation | |
| Daily newspapers | 296 | 30,580,459 | 180 | 11,917,481 |
| Weekly newspapers | 111 | 3,951,905 | 32 | 333,392 |
| College newspapers | 78 | 768,000 | 2 | 16,479 |
| Magazines and other | 10 | 5,226,633 | 1 | 178,780 |
| Switched Parties from 2004 | 66 | 11 | ||
| Total | 495 | 40,526,997 | 215 | 12,446,132 |
John McCain
Barack Obama
Not endorsing
The following explicitly chose not to endorse any candidate.- Abilene Reporter News(Texas, circulation 36,802) discontinued endorsing presidential candidates as a matter of policy in 2004.
- Ann Arbor NewsAnn Arbor NewsThe Ann Arbor News was a newspaper serving Washtenaw and Livingston counties in Michigan. Published in Ann Arbor, under various names from 1835 to 2009, The News was part of Booth Newspapers, owned by Advance Publications Inc. The News was published in the afternoons Monday through Friday and in...
(Michigan, circulation 59,997) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Ashland Daily PressAshland Daily PressThe Ashland Daily Press is a daily newspaper based in Ashland, Wisconsin. It is published by Heartland Publications and is primarily distributed in Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price and Saywer counties....
(Wisconsin, circulation 7,252) does not endorse candidates as a matter of policy. - Brownsville Herald (Texas, circulation 15,517).
- Carlisle SentinelThe Sentinel (Pennsylvania)The Sentinel is a daily newspaper based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, serving the Harrisburg metropolitan area. The newspaper is generally considered more conservative than the Patriot-News and has a strong circulation base in central and western Cumberland County and parts of Perry County.-External...
(Pennsylvania, circulation 15,334) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Colorado Springs Gazette (Colorado, circulation 109,603) did not endorse any candidate in 2004.
- Deseret News (Salt Lake City) (Utah, circulation 75,614) does not endorse candidates as a matter of policy.
- East Tennessean (East Tenn. Univ.) (Tennessee, circulation 6,000).
- Everett HeraldThe Herald (Everett)The Herald is a newspaper based in Everett, Washington. It is owned by The Washington Post Company. The paper serves as a major news source for residents of Snohomish County.-History:...
(Washington, circulation 52,226) endorsed John Kerry in 2004. - Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville)The Florida Times-UnionThe Florida Times-Union is a major daily newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Widely known as the oldest newspaper in the state, it began publication as the Florida Union in 1864. Its current incarnation started in 1883, when the Florida Union merged with another Jacksonville paper, the...
(Florida, circulation 201,352) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Flyer NewsFlyer NewsFlyer News, also known as "fn", is the independent student newspaper of the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. It was first published October 21, 1959 and is now published twice a week while classes are in session, for a total of 40 issues per academic year. Currently, 5,000 copies of each issue...
(Univ. of Dayton) (Ohio, circulation 5,000). - The News-Press (Fort Myers) (Florida, circulation 84,022).
- Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg)The Free Lance–StarThe Free Lance–Star is the principal daily newspaper distributed throughout Fredericksburg, Virginia, with a circulation area including the city of Fredericksburg and all or parts of the counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, Louisa, Orange, Prince William...
(VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, circulation 50,480) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Fond du Lac Reporter (Wisconsin, circulation 16,469) did not endorse any candidate in 2004.
- Harlingen Valley Morning StarValley Morning StarValley Morning Star, established in 1911, is a newspaper published out of Harlingen, Texas, United States. In 1938, The New York Times reported on a printer's strike at the newspaper that was organized by the Typographical Union. In 1951, the newspaper was bought by Raymond C. Hoiles.-External...
(Texas, circulation 20,403). - Honolulu AdvertiserHonolulu AdvertiserThe Honolulu Advertiser was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in the American state of Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and Internet editions...
(Hawaii, circulation 142,401) endorsed John Kerry in 2004. - Houma CourierThe Courier (Houma, Louisiana)The Houma Courier is a newspaper published daily in Houma, Louisiana, United States, covering Terrebonne Parish. It is a part of the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group. It is sometimes simply referred to as "The Courier". The paper is published by Miles Forrest and the paper's Executive...
(Louisiana, circulation 26,528) - Huntsville Times (Alabama, circulation 71,032).
- Indianapolis StarThe Indianapolis StarThe Indianapolis Star is a morning daily newspaper that began publishing on June 6, 1903. It has won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting twice, in 1975 and 1991. It is currently owned by the Gannett Company.-History:...
(Indiana, circulation 255,303) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Kalamazoo GazetteKalamazoo GazetteThe Kalamazoo Gazette is the daily newspaper in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. The Gazette is owned by Booth Newspapers which is owned by Advance Publications....
(Michigan, circulation 64,198) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Lima News (Ohio, circulation 39,450).
- Loyola PhoenixLoyola PhoenixThe Loyola Phoenix is the official newspaper of Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. It is a student activity, and independent of the school's journalism program...
(Loyola Univ.) (Illinois). - Manitowoc Herald Times ReporterHerald Times ReporterThe Herald Times Reporter is a daily newspaper based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It is part of the Gannett Company chain of newspapers. The Herald Times Reporter is primarily distributed in Manitowoc County...
(Wisconsin, circulation 14,243) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Marietta RegisterMarietta RegisterThe Marietta Register is a weekly, community-focused newspaper published in Marietta, Ohio.-History:Launched in September 2006, The Marietta Register attempts to bring honest, conventional journalism to the small towns of Marietta, Devola, Reno, and Belpre, Ohio and Williamstown and Vienna,...
(Ohio, free weekly circulation 10,000). - Marysville Appeal-DemocratAppeal-DemocratThe Appeal-Democrat is a daily broadsheet newspaper printed in Marysville, California, in the United States. It has an estimated circulation of 23,000 copies a day, primarily in Yuba and Sutter counties...
(California, circulation 22,911). - Morning CallThe Morning CallThe Morning Call is a daily newspaper based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The newspaper is owned by the Tribune Company, whose other publications include the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and Baltimore Sun....
(Allentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
) endorsed John Kerry in 2004. - Mountain Home News (Boise) (Idaho, weekly circulation 4,000).
- The New HampshireThe New HampshireThe New Hampshire, or TNH, is the "University of New Hampshire's student newspaper since 1911," published by the student organization of the same name. The newspaper is published weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays during the academic year, with a printed circulation 6,000...
(Univ. of New Hampshire) (New Hampshire, circulation 6,000). - Northeast Mississippi Daily JournalNortheast Mississippi Daily JournalThe Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal is the largest daily newspaper in northeast Mississippi. It was first published in 1872. In 1934 it was taken over by George Mclean, a proponent of leftist social policies. It is based in Tupelo, Mississippi and owned by Journal, Inc...
(Tupelo) (Mississippi, circulation 36,929). - Oshkosh NorthwesternOshkosh NorthwesternThe Oshkosh Northwestern is a daily newspaper based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is part of the Gannett chain of newspapers.The Northwestern is primarily distributed in Winnebago, Waushara, and Green Lake counties.-Building:...
(Wisconsin, circulation 19,506) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Port Huron Times Herald (Michigan, circulation 32,766) endorsed John Kerry in 2004.
- Redding Record SearchlightRedding Record SearchlightThe Redding Record Searchlight is an award-winning newspaper serving Redding, California. It has a daily circulation of about 30,000 and hosts a Redding news Web site, Redding.com.-History:...
(California, circulation 35,004). - Roanoke Times (Virginia, circulation 99,171) endorsed John Kerry in 2004.
- Rocky Mount TelegramRocky Mount TelegramRocky Mount Telegram is a daily newspaper based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.-References:http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/cooke-communications-to-buy-cox-nc-publications-728132.html...
(North Carolina, circulation 15,880). - Rocky Mountain NewsRocky Mountain NewsThe Rocky Mountain News was a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado, United States from April 23, 1859, until February 27, 2009. It was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company from 1926 until its closing. As of March 2006, the Monday-Friday circulation was 255,427...
(Denver) (Colorado, circulation 490,043) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Roseburg News-Review (Oregon, circulation 19,290) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004
- St. Paul Pioneer PressSt. Paul Pioneer PressThe St. Paul Pioneer Press is a newspaper based in St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Circulation is heaviest in the eastern metro region, including Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington counties, along with western Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota and Anoka County,...
(Minnesota, circulation 191,591) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004. - Springfield News-LeaderSpringfield News-LeaderThe Springfield News-Leader is the predominant newspaper for the city of Springfield, Missouri and covers the Ozarks. The News-Leader has a morning circulation of 60,889 and a Sunday circulation of 88,970...
(Missouri, circulation 54,307) - Superior Daily Telegram (Wisconsin, circulation 7,550) endorsed George W. Bush in 2004.
- Topeka Capital-JournalThe Topeka Capital-JournalThe Topeka Capital-Journal is a daily newspaper in Topeka, Kansas owned by Morris Communications. It has won one Pulitzer Prize.-History:...
(Kansas, circulation 53,180) - Tucson CitizenTucson CitizenThe Tucson Citizen was a daily newspaper in Tucson, Arizona. It was founded by Richard C. McCormick with John Wasson as publisher and editor on October 15, 1870 as the Arizona Citizen....
(Arizona, circulation 19,851) did not endorse any candidate in 2004. - Victoria Advocate (Texas, circulation 34,604)
- Virginian Pilot (Norfolk) (Virginia, circulation 200,457) endorsed John Kerry in 2004.
- Waco Tribune-HeraldWaco Tribune-HeraldThe Waco Tribune-Herald is an American daily newspaper serving Waco, Texas and vicinity.The newspaper has its roots in five different predecessors, beginning with the Waco Evening Telephone in 1892. The Tribune-Herald took its current identity when E.S...
(Texas, circulation 42,914) Endorsed John Kerry in 2004.