A Texas newspaper just did something it hasn't done since before World War II: recommended a Democrat for president, the Los Angeles Times reports, noting the Lone Star State is a "must-win" for Donald Trump. In a Wednesday editorial, the Dallas Morning News says it had no choice but to throw its support behind Hillary Clinton, calling her the only "serious candidate" on the ballot. "If you're counting, that's more than 75 years and nearly 20 elections," the paper notes about the end of its streak (it endorsed FDR in 1940, per Vox). The paper adds it still has beefs with the Democratic Party and a wariness regarding Clinton, but that its endorsement comes because "unlike Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton has experience in actual governance, a record of service, and a willingness to delve into real policy." The paper cites how Clinton reached across the aisle in the Senate and wielded her authority as secretary of state to make "tough calls" about the Middle East and in the "complex struggle against radical Islamic terrorism."
The paper acknowledges Clinton is still dealing with controversy regarding her emails, the Clinton Foundation, and a general perception by many that she's not honest and trustworthy. But it says those who are lobbing charges of "treason" and "murder" are just "political hyenas" bent on seeing nothing but "conspiracies and cover-ups" and that her mistakes "are plainly in a different universe than [Trump's]." Meanwhile, the GOP nominee is labeled as unprepared, lacking in judgment and impulse control (as evidenced by his often-ranting "midnight tweets"), and someone who "[exploits] base instincts of xenophobia, racism, and misogyny." Clinton "has spent years in the trenches doing the hard work needed to prepare herself to lead our nation. In this race, at this time, she deserves your vote." (Trump's latest endorsement came from 88 retired military officials.)