The Eight Keys to New Hampshire

The Des Moines Register's much-sought-after endorsement turned out to have little impact on the outcome of the Iowa caucuses. (The paper's remarkably accurate pre-caucus poll, however, gave a preview of election night results.) But the Union Leader, its New Hampshire counterpart, has already had an effect on the race. After the paper endorsed McCain on December 2, publisher Joe McQuaid told one McCain aide, "When we endorse a candidate, we keep endorsing." Indeed, the Union Leader has since run half a dozen additional editorials in support of McCain. It has also taken the unusual step of running negative editorials criticizing Mitt Romney.