The Des Moines Register has endorsed Mitt Romney. This is a pretty big deal because, as The Other McCain noted, that paper has not endorsed a Republican in four decades! They say he offers a “fresh economic vision.”

 American voters are deeply divided about this race. The Register’s editorial board, as it should, had a vigorous debate over this endorsement. Our discussion repeatedly circled back to the nation’s single most important challenge: pulling the economy out of the doldrums, getting more Americans back in the workforce in meaningful jobs with promising futures, and getting the federal government on a track to balance the budget in a bipartisan manner that the country demands.

Which candidate could forge the compromises in Congress to achieve these goals? When the question is framed in those terms, Mitt Romney emerges the stronger candidate. (Read More)

In completely unrelated news, Zilla is home from the hospital. She’s still sick, but happy to be home with her family. She told me she slept better last night than she had slept all week. Also, I don’t know if you heard, but Dan Riehl is also in the hospital. Smitty reported today that Dan has been transferred out of the ICU and was sitting up enjoying a Diet Coke.

Dan’s a good guy, back in 2010 when Ann Marie Buerkle was running against Dan Maffei the first time I asked Dan if he would help bring some attention to the race because I didn’t think it was getting enough media attention. He did. Soon after others started to take note and she won. Anyway, please keep Dan and Zilla in your prayers. They both have tip jars if you’re feeling generous.