In this most negative of presidential campaigns, some American newspapers have opted to write negative endorsements. Instead of speaking in favor of a candidate, they have urged their readers to vote against Donald Trump.

When our Seacoast Media Group editorial board met to discuss its presidential endorsement we agreed Trump should not be president. His dark, divisive and demeaning campaign leads us to believe a Trump presidency would cast a pall over the nation.

His targeting of religious and ethnic minorities, his mocking of the disabled, his vile language about women, his disrespect of a Muslim Gold Star family, his quick temper and slash and burn attacks on his critics all lead us to believe a Trump presidency would pose a danger to our nation now and long into the future.

While no board members spoke in favor of Trump, a sizeable minority felt they could not endorse Hillary Clinton. The majority, however, felt she would make a good president and is by far the most qualified.

As with our readers, many on our board have a strong distrust of Secretary Clinton. They argue Clinton’s careless handling of classified emails when she was secretary of state, her use of a private email server and her failure to turn over all the emails to the FBI, were disqualifying actions. They felt Clinton lied to investigators, destroyed evidence and that the FBI’s conclusions were not reflective of what the investigators found and recommended.

But this newspaper group ultimately puts its trust in the FBI investigation, and rejects the continuous castigations of doubt by Clinton’s opponents. FBI director James Comey, a Republican, concluded that while Clinton was reckless in her handling of classified documents, “no reasonable prosecutor” would bring charges. While opponents said Comey’s hesitation was a political act, Comey put it the opposite way: based on the facts, prosecuting such a case would surely constitute a political act.

Board members opposed to a Clinton endorsement spoke of WikiLeaks documents showing how the Democratic National Committee had put its finger on the scale to the detriment of Bernie Sanders during the primary and other documents that seemed to suggest collusion between the Clinton camp and establishment power brokers including major television networks and federal officials who were supposed to be investigating her. But voters must remember that in politics, loyalty is repaid, and Clinton had supported and worked tirelessly for Democrats who make up the DNC’s rank and file from coast to coast. Sanders never did, and defiantly never would.

Our debate showed our board faces the same divisions our readers do. But in the end, we endorse Hillary Clinton because her experience in the White House as first lady, a two-term U.S. senator and four years as secretary of state have prepared her as well as anyone can ever be prepared, to serve as president. It is an almost impossible job that quickly ages all those who take it on. Each day can bring life and death decisions and of all the candidates running, Clinton has by far the most experience and coolest temperament. The third party candidates in the race have not shown themselves yet ready for prime time.

Has Hillary Clinton made mistakes? Of course, and she has acknowledged many of them. Is she “likable?” To many she is not (though our many hours with her have found this not to be true). Is she effective at getting things done? Yes.

The world is volatile and unpredictable and a fair accounting of every statesman would include decisions to celebrate and decisions to regret. Given her experience, intelligence and temperament, we’re confident Clinton will bring rigorous analysis to her decision-making process and will be right far more often than she is wrong. She has both the plaudits and scars of public life, she is far from perfect, but as even her opponent has acknowledged, “she is a fighter and she doesn’t quit.” We like what she’s fighting for – broad prosperity achieved by public investment in education and clean energy, prudently funded by a fair tax code, and a future in which our country’s diversity brings strength through inclusion. Of all the candidates running we’re most comfortable with Clinton nominating Supreme Court justices.

We urge our readers to support Hillary Clinton for president in the Nov. 8 general election.

Seacoast Media Group publishes the Portsmouth Herald, Foster's Daily Democrat, Seacoast Sunday, Exeter News-Letter, Hampton Union, Rochester Times, Sanford News, York Weekly and York County Coast Star, and the group's websites, Seacoastonline.com and Fosters.com.