Story highlights Boston's two largest newspapers on Monday split their endorsements

The Boston Globe endorsed Ohio Gov. John Kasich

The Boston Herald endorsed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

Manchester, NH (CNN) Boston's two largest newspapers on Monday split their endorsements between a pair of Republicans running in the establishment lane of the 2016 contest: Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The Boston Globe announced its support for Kasich and the more conservative Boston Herald threw its support behind Christie. Both papers have large audiences in southern New Hampshire, the first-in-the-nation primary state where Kasich and Christie are hoping for strong performances to buoy their candidacies.

The Globe editorial board wrote , "By voting for Kasich, New Hampshire can reward a candidate whose politics have been largely positive -- and rebuke those candidates who have spent their campaign appealing to voters' fears and biases."

At a stop in Manchester earlier in the day, Kasich promised that he would not go negative as the race heated up in New Hampshire.

The Herald wrote Monday that it was endorsing Christie because of his tough attitude, but knocked the divisive tone of other candidates without naming them.