While Donald Trump’s presidential campaign finds itself populated by late endorsements by the likes of Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton continues to gather support from major papers of record. Her most recent came from the New York Times, which outlined a detailed series of arguments aimed at convincing Clinton’s naysayers among registered Democrats, Independents, and undecided voters. Before that, however, the generally conservative Dallas Morning News threw its weight behind the Democratic nominee for the first time in 76 years.
Hence why the conservative-leaning Arizona Republic editorial board’s decision to endorse Clinton over Trump doesn’t seem all that surprising. After all, along with the Cincinnati Enquirer and several notable instances involving GOP officials, headlines identifying Republicans who’ve voiced their preference for Clinton has become the norm. Except, of course, when you consider the fact the Arizona Republic has never endorsed a Democratic presidential candidate since its founding in 1890.
“The 2016 Republican candidate is not conservative and he is not qualified,” the editorial board declared on Tuesday. “That’s why, for the first time in our history, The Arizona Republic will support a Democrat for president.” It goes without saying that the paper still thinks Clinton “has flaws,” and that the former secretary of state “has made serious missteps” throughout her political career.” Yet, when compared to the Republican nominee, they argue how “Clinton is the superior choice.”
Arizona includes the country’s second-largest border with Mexico, and the paper’s board is especially concerned with Trump’s immigration policies — including his continued threats to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. After all, the state’s efforts to impose strict, proto-Trump immigration reform with the SB 1070 “show me your papers” law didn’t pan out so well. Instead, it “earned Arizona international condemnation and did nothing to resolve real problems with undocumented immigration,” something the Arizona Republic fears a Trump presidency will only make worse.
(Via Arizona Republic)