One of New York’s biggest newspapers wished for two things in an unusual political endorsement this weekend: that Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) would win reelection and that he would then be convicted of a federal crime.
In an editorial headlined “Very Grimm choice,” the New York Daily News quipped that the race for New York’s 11th district was a bleak one. Grimm’s Democratic challenger, the newspaper said, was an even worse choice than an incumbent who’s been indicted on federal charges and recently threatened to toss a reporter off a balcony.
“In Domenic Recchia, the Democrats have fielded a candidate so dumb, ill-informed, evasive and inarticulate that voting for a thuggish Republican who could wind up in a prison jumpsuit starts to make rational sense,” the Daily News wrote. “At least Michael Grimm can string three sentences together.”
The Daily News also saw an upside if Grimm ends up winning and then going to prison: a do-over.
“Should he be convicted,” the Daily News wrote, “Grimm has promised to resign, paving the way for a match between two fresh candidates. All the better.”
The Daily News was at least the second newspaper in the past week to give Grimm an endorsement despite the possibility that he could wind up behind bars. The Staten Island Advance on Thursday published an editorial that practically apologized for endorsing Grimm but then did it anyway.
