Politics: McConoughey picks up 2 newspaper endorsements

My own thoughts about the value newspaper endorsements are on record. Still, here is a press release from the Jim McConoughey campaign regarding two such endorsement:

Peoria Journal Star Recommends McConoughey for Congress

Jacksonville Journal-Courier says McConoughey the ‘better’ choice to represent the 18th District

Peoria, IL – Citing his maturity, measured approach and ability to make up his own mind, the Peoria Journal Star says Jim McConoughey is ‘ready right now’ to serve the 18th District in Congress and has earned the paper’s endorsement in the February 5th Primary Election.

In the Sunday edition of the Journal Star (January 27, 2008), the Editorial Board said; “[McConoughey’s] forged a career as a consensus-builder. He is especially strong on budget/finance issues. McConoughey also is enough of an independent thinker - he takes issue with pre-emptive military strike as a first-option foreign policy tool, he thinks America should lead on issues like global climate change, both departures from party line - that we can’t discount him.”

The Peoria Republican was honored to be the Journal Star’s choice; “We have been working non-stop since September, delivering our message throughout the 20 counties in this District,” said McConoughey. “It is humbling to win the endorsement of the largest newspaper in the District. I am thrilled to have the support of the Peoria Journal Star, as well as Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, Peoria State Senator Dale Risinger, retired Senator Laura Kent Donahue of Quincy and numerous others. But I realize it is the endorsement of the individual voters on February 5th that count the most. With slightly more than a week in this campaign, I will continue meeting voters, listening to them on the issues they care about and working diligently to earn their support.”

The Journal Star said McConoughey’s opponents are both articulate and intelligent, but one is too extreme and the other has run a campaign with ‘too many red flags regarding his readiness.’ The Editorial clearly states that Jim McConoughey is the candidate who can best carry on the steady, mature approach to leading the 18th District in Congress as Congressman Ray LaHood and his predecessors have done. The full endorsement can be found at this link: www.pjstar.com/stories/012708/END_BFJPBD56.058.php.

Likewise, the Jacksonville Journal Courier today (1/27/08) has editorialized on the 18th District Congressional race. According to that newspaper, Jim McConoughey “probably holds the most traditional Republican values of the lot and is the most mature.” The Journal –Courier said of McConoughey rival Aaron Schock that he has ‘potential in time,’ but “Jim McConoughey would be better from the get-go.” The editorial in full can be accessed at this link: www.myjournalcourier.com/articles/government_17096___article.html/candidates_area.html

Jim McConoughey is a business leader and economic development professional with 26 years of experience creating jobs and opportunities for communities in a region serving 350,000 people. His values of hard work and integrity started during his childhood on the family farm. Today, he and his wife Gina are raising their two teenagers in Dunlap in addition to balancing professional careers. Jim is not a professional politician; he is a leader in public service waging his first campaign for elective office. He is a Republican running for Congress in the 18th District; the Primary Election will take place on February 5, 2008.