Mark Obenshain got an endorsement today from a very unexpected source: the Roanoke Times.
Wow. So what was this otherwise reliably left-of-center paper’s reasoning? Essentially, because he won’t be like Ken Cuccinelli:
Given his reserved, mild-mannered personality, we are comfortable concluding that Obenshain would take a less flamboyant, more workmanlike approach to the office, in contrast to Cuccinelli. If Obenshain is elected, he must also show an ability to grow past his personal limitations. We acknowledge that his religious beliefs are sincere, but as a statewide official he must represent the commonwealth, not a sectarian segment of the population.
It’s obvious the paper was pained to make this endorsement, and they tried to work through that pain by taking swings both at Mark and the incumbent, Ken Cuccinelli.
All that pettiness aside, this is a genuine blow to Democrat Mark Herring, who even at this late date, still appears confused as to what the commonwealth’s attorney general actual does.
The last statewide Republican I can recall the RT endorsing was Jerry Kilgore back in 2001.
