The New York Times endorsed Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee, calling her “one of the most broadly and deeply qualified presidential
candidates in modern history.”
“For the past painful year, the Republican presidential contenders have been bombarding Americans with empty propaganda slogans and competing, bizarrely, to present themselves as the least experienced person for the most important elected job in the world,” the paper’s endorsement begins.
“Democratic primary voters, on the other hand, after a substantive debate over real issues, have the chance to nominate one of the most broadly and deeply qualified presidential candidates in modern history.”
The paper’s endorsement of Clinton, a former New York senator and secretary of state, came two days before the Iowa caucuses. Her lead rival on the Democratic side, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, has mounted a stronger challenge than many anticipated.
The Times noted that Clinton would be the first woman nominated by a major party, and that it endorsed her for her two Senate runs and in the 2008 race for the nomination. The paper said she was best suited to lead on helping women and people of color, standing up to Wall Street, and gun control — saying Sanders’ record on guns was “relatively weak.”
The Times dismissed former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley as “a personable and reasonable liberal who seems more suited for the jobs he has already had — governor of Maryland and mayor of Baltimore — than for president.”
You can read the full endorsement here.