Des Moines Register Endorses Clinton, Rubio In Presidential Race

The Des Moines Register editorial board announced on Saturday that it would endorse Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) in the Republican primary.

The editorial board wrote that Clinton has the necessary experience to be president of the United States:

The presidency is not an entry-level position. Whoever is sworn into office next January must demonstrate not only a deep understanding of the issues facing America, but also possess the diplomatic skills that enable presidents to forge alliances to get things done.
By that measure, Democrats have one outstanding candidate deserving of their support: Hillary Clinton. No other candidate can match the depth or breadth of her knowledge and experience.

The Iowa paper wrote that Clinton is not “perfect candidate, as evidenced the way she has handled the furor over her private email server.” But the editorial board said that it’s “almost inconceivable” that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) would be able to “remake Washington in his own image.”

In endorsing Rubio, the editorial board wrote that Rubio is “his party’s best hope.”

That hope rests partly in the electoral calculus of the country. Republicans should have learned from 2012 that they cannot win with Republicans alone. Recent polling shows Rubio has higher favorability ratings among independents than all candidates but Ben Carson, as well as positive ratings among Latinos.

The paper wrote that it “values the executive experience, pragmatism and thoughtful policies of John Kasich, Chris Christie and Jeb Bush,” but said Republican voters are not “interested in rewarding a long resume this year.”