UPDATE: Ohio, Washington Papers Endorse McCain

By: Dexter Hill The Courier in Findlay, Ohio, has announced its endorsement of Sen. John McCain for President. The newspaper also supported the Republican candidate in 2004. Also committing to McCain:: The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash.

E&P is charting every editorial endorsement. Obama had been on a run in the past week. We will be running our daily chart update very soon. Send any pick to: gmitchell@editorandpublisher.com.

The Spokesman-Review views McCain?s ?long service? to the country and strong record of leadership as the experience needed to handle America?s affairs at home and abroad. Though the endorsement does criticize Palin as the VP pick, ?she is not running for president,? and Obama is, the editorial read.

The Findlay editorial cited McCain?s plan to bail the nation out of the current economic downturn as a key reason for its support. The Ohio newspaper (the state once again is a key battleground) believes that a McCain-Palin administration would downsize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, put an end to predatory lending, and keep ?credit-worthy homeowners? in their homes.

The Courier also supported McCain?s stance on government spending. ?In the Sept. 8 Wall Street Journal op-ed, he pledged in his first 100 days in office to examine "every agency and department and expenditure of the federal government and ask this simple question: Is it serving the needs of the taxpayer?" If the answer is no, he wrote, "we will reform it or shut it down," the editorial read.

Other issues the editorial endorses include McCain?s tax plan, both McCain and Gov. Palin?s solutions to the nation?s energy problems, McCain?s proposed health care plan, McCain?s ?strict constructionist? view of the Supreme Court, and the Republican candidate?s stance on foreign policy issues.

On social policy issues, The Courier critiqued Sen. Barack Obama. It criticized his views on abortion and argued that civil unions would be nationalized under an Obama administration when it should be left up to the states to decide. The endorsement also faults Obama for the ?negative baggage? he carries: ?the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers, ACORN, etc.?