This was not unexpected. They endorsed him in the primary four years ago. While it’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, it does provide a boost.
Endorsing a candidate with more than 2½ weeks left in the campaign is a little like calling a horse race in the last lap — anything could happen before the finish line. Each day can bring a revelation affecting a campaign. But in the final analysis, you have to go with a candidate based on where he stands on the issues important to you. For that reason, the Sun-Times endorses Gov. Rod Blagojevich for re-election because of his record of expanding health care and educational opportunity.
There’s no denying the cloud of scandal over his administration. One of his chief fund-raisers, Antoin “Tony” Rezko, was indicted last week for alleged shakedowns for campaign contributions. More revelations likely will come right before the election when power broker Stuart Levine is expected to plead guilty. The governor said the charges against Rezko, if true, represent a personal betrayal by Rezko, and that he himself has never been involved in any unethical or illegal fund-raising. Our experience with Blagojevich prompts us to take him at his word. We’ve chosen to give him the benefit of the doubt and endorse him for a number of reasons.
Thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** The AP has a story up: Chicago Sun-Times endorses Blagojevich