Brett Milam

bmilam@enquirer.com

The Arizona Republic is the latest newspaper with a conservative endorsement history to formally endorse Democrat Hillary Clinton for president.

Since The Arizona Republic began publication in 1890, it has have never endorsed a Democrat over a Republican for president, the paper reported Tuesday.

"Clinton has the temperament and experience to be president. Donald Trump does not," the editorial board said. "She does not casually say things that embolden our adversaries and frighten our allies. Her approach to governance is mature, confident and rational."

The editorial board also asked readers "whose hand do you want on the nuclear button?"

"Contrast Clinton’s tenacity and professionalism with Trump, who began his campaign with gross generalities about Mexico and Mexicans as criminals and rapists," the editorial board wrote.

The editorial board said Clinton offers the nation the opportunity to "move us beyond rancor and incivility."

On Sept. 23, The Enquirer's editorial board broke ranks with nearly a century of tradition by also endorsing Clinton. The Enquirer last endorsed a Democrat in 1916 – Woodrow Wilson in his re-election bid amidst World War I.

"It's time to elect the first female U.S. president – not because she's a woman, but because she's hands-down the most qualified choice," The Enquirer's editorial board said.

Endorsement: Hillary Clinton is the only choice to move America ahead

After the endorsement, major news outlets like The Washington Post, The LA Times, NPR, CNN, Politico and many, many others reported on it.

NPR reported "... It seems The New York Times (which also endorsed Clinton) may actually have less influence on its readership than The Cincinnati Enquirer, at least when it comes to endorsements."

The NPR report cited a 2011 study by the National Bureau of Economic research that found editorial board endorsements that depart from what is expected by readers often have more influence on those readers.

From the study: "... endorsements for the Democratic candidate from left-leaning newspapers are less influential than are endorsements from neutral or right-leaning newspapers, and likewise for endorsements for the Republican. These findings suggest that voters do rely on the media for information during campaigns but that the extent of this reliance depends upon the degree and direction of any bias."

Enquirer endorsement makes national news

As NPR pointed out, The Enquirer's endorsement came off the heels of The Dallas Morning News and The Houston Chronicle, traditionally Republican-leaning newspapers backing Clinton. The Arizona Republic is the latest to join the group.

Not one major daily newspaper editorial board has endorsed Republican Donald Trump for president. Others, like The Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Winston-Salem Journal, have endorsed Libertarian Gary Johnson.