Popular PA. Columnist Endorses Obama

[JPZenger]

Bill White is the most popular columnist in the 4th largest newspaper in PA, the Morning Call. It covers the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. Here is the column and excerpts:

http://www.mcall.com/news/columnists/all-white-mar26,0,1622471.column

"I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. I can't remember a time when I was inspired by a presidential nominee. Maybe JFK or Bobby Kennedy had that effect, but I was way too young to vote.
...At least one generation of Americans has come to believe that it always has to be this way, that we'll always have to settle for someone we know in our hearts is fundamentally flawed -- and for a country that many of us feel is moving in the wrong direction.

Obama got up and addressed the issue of race relations in America, not with quick sound bites, but in a serious, thoughtful, head-on way that, in a better world, might spark constructive discussions in classrooms and living rooms across America. It was a hopeful, deeply felt plea for Americans to understand the history -- white and black -- that divides them, and to move beyond those divisions to solve our country's problems.

...But I'm not ashamed to tell you that I'm ready to be inspired. And I don't think I'm alone."

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Also, the Morning Call publicized Terresa Heinz's column endorsing Obama. This was originally published in the Pittsburgh paper:

http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/anotherview/all-heinz3-26.6328649mar26,0,3406768.story

[happyslug]

1. "The Fourth Largest Paper in Pa"??? That like calling the Tribune-Review a Newspaper.

There are only three papers in PA, the Philadelphia Inquirer (688,670), the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (341,474) and the Harrisburg Patriot-News (93,000).

While the Allentown Morning Call (117,977) and the Tribune Review (149,068) have larger Circulation then the lowly Patriot-News, the Patriot News is the dominate newspaper in the Middle of the state, the Post-Gazette is the Dominate Newspaper in the Western Part of the State (and that includes much of the Mountains where it is often purchased with whatever local paper is purchased in the area, the local dominate gas station carries it in Altoona and points East). The Inquirer is by far the largest Newspaper but that is more a reflection of the size of the Philadelphia Metro-Area as compared to the Pittsburgh Metro-area. The Patriot-News is carried even in Johnstown, but in a store catering to the local Courthouse (Harrisburg is the State Capital so news from Harrisburg is often sought even in Johnstown).

As to the Morning-Call is strictly regional, i.e Allentown. The Tribune Review is a joke (i.e. As part of its owner's divorce case the status of the Tribune-Review came up, is it a variable business or is it a hobby? This came up in the Mellon-Scaife Divorce case, but was quickly sealed by the Court but the Post-Gazette did report it). Most other newspapers are very regional, i.e. very rarely seen outside the county they are produced in.

For list of Newspaper circulation see:
http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/newsform.asp

Just pointing out that this endorsement is NOT from a Major Paper in the state, just a regional one and one has to give it the weight one gives to any regional paper.

[JPZenger]

2. OK, 5th largest paper

I stand corrected, the Morning Call is the 5th largest paper in PA.

[happyslug]

3. No You were right it is the Fourth Largest in the state.

My point was the papers to watch are the big three (and mostly the big two). The other papers in the State are very Regional (Including to a degree the Patriot-News). We have to watch what the big three do, more do to their larger area of coverage then anything else.

[bigworld]

4. The Morning Call is a quality paper

... I miss it since moving to Lancaster.

[bronxiteforever]

5. I totally disagree with your analysis on the Morning Call. It is not

strictly regional. The Morning Call spreads throughout dominate population centers for Democrats and Independents.

The Morning Call is MORE important than the Patriot because it is circulated in Upper Bucks County (It has a Quakertown Bureau). Bucks is very important to the State with our Party, It is a swing county. Also the Call is circulated in Upper Montgomery County. Both Bucks and Montco have huge populations compared to the Patriot Coverage Area. Additionally, the Call is circulated in the Poconos and Berks County and dominates the Lehigh Valley. It has quite a large reach.

You point that this is not an endorsement of the paper is well taken. But it is far from a regional paper.