By Tom Allon
When I was the publisher of a chain of weekly newspapers, each year around this time numerous political candidates came to our office for their endorsement interviews.
In races for City Council or the state Assembly or state Senate, where most voters have little knowledge of the qualifications or views of the candidates, the endorsement of the local newspaper can be influential in the outcome of these “down ballot” races.
But in much larger races, such as mayor or governor, endorsements from local newspapers matter less. One could argue that the endorsements of the large dailies, such as the New York Post, Daily News and The New York Times, move fewer votes these days as circulations plummet.
A few years ago, a bright and successful businessman, Harry Wilson, virtually swept the newspaper endorsements around the city and in much of the state, but he came up short as the GOP challenger to incumbent state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
This year, we will have another interesting test case on the power of newspaper endorsements in the city comptroller race. Scott Stringer took the News, Post and Times, but according to recent polls still lags behind Eliot Spitzer.
Can Stringer use the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval that these editorial endorsements represent to nose ahead of Spitzer on Primary Day? Time will tell.
Besides newspaper endorsements, there are the much-sought-after union endorsements that often are accompanied by ground troops, independent expenditure advertising budgets and phone banks.
This year’s Democratic mayoral primary has a fractured set of union endorsements, with four of the five leading candidates — the exception is Anthony Weiner — each claiming support from at least a few major unions. Until the run-off, it seems, the union support will be neutralized.
There are also the many endorsements by current and former elected leaders, but like good looks and cotton candy, they are nice to have but do not really matter much at the end of the day.
There is one individual, I believe, whose endorsement in the mayoral race could tip the scales this year: Al Sharpton. The MSNBC pundit and former controversial reverend still has lots of sway in the African-American community. If he endorsed Bill de Blasio or Christine Quinn, it could be the death knell for the only African-American candidate, Bill Thompson.
Conversely, a strong endorsement of Thompson by Sharpton could propel the former comptroller into a run-off and beyond.
I like to read endorsements for the persuasive cases they make for the candidate they support. They are part of my decision-making process.
But when all is said and done, voting is an independent decision. Voters must educate themselves and then weigh the candidates’ pluses and minuses before deciding who will best move our great city forward.
Most of all, vote. It is your civic duty.
Tom Allon, president of City & State NY, was a Republican and Liberal Party-backed mayoral candidate in 2013 before he left to return to the private sector. Reach him at tallon@cityandstateny.com.
