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As Election Day draws near, the number of newspaper endorsements for the candidates seems to go up exponentially. However, the Washington Post made headlines figuratively and literally when it decided not to endorse Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in 2024. As many as 200,000 subscribers supposedly canceled their Post subscriptions and blamed owner Jeff Bezos for the glaring omission. But is a newspaper supposed to be in the seal of approval business with regards to political candidates? Rich Lowry is the Editor-in-Chief of the National Review- which, incidentally, is not endorsing a candidate this go-around. He appeared on 710 WOR’s Len Berman and Michae Riedel in the Morning program to explain why endorsement by a publication get publicity, but overall are virtually meaningless.
“It could make a difference in primaries here and there,” Lowry told Berman and Riedel. “But The Washington Post is in Washington, D.C.; its endorsement doesn’t matter. USA Today’s endorsement doesn’t matter. The New York Times endorsements matter in New York races. If you’re a non-swing state newspaper, I really don’t think it matters. Jeff Bezos is out with a statement saying it doesn’t matter, and it creates the perception that we’re biased. I think the more significant thing is that the Post is biased. Its news coverage is biased. If he wants to fix that, great, more power to him, but he’s going to have a heck of a fight on his hands.”
Lowry also addressed the Tony Hinchcliffe mess, saying Trump probably won’t feel the effects of the comedian’s off-the-mark jokes, but it still does Trump no good. “I don’t think most people vote based on what a comedian says four hours before a Presidential candidate shows up, but that comedian- you know, do your ethnic jokes. I don’t have a problem with ethnic jokes- if they’re funny. These weren’t particularly funny. But do them at the club or on your podcast. Don’t do them warming up for a Presidential candidate in the final days of the campaign when he’s trying to win Latino and black votes. It’s just insane.”
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