The New York Times has endorsed Senators Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, marking the first time the newspaper has split its endorsement between two candidates. The announcement, made on Sunday, comes just weeks before the Iowa caucuses on February 3, which officially kick off the primary season.
The editorial board described Warren, of Massachusetts, as the 'radical' choice and Klobuchar, of Minnesota, as the 'realist' option. 'An essential debate is underway between two visions that may define the future of the party and perhaps the nation,' the board wrote, referring to differing views on whether President Trump is an aberration or a symptom of deeper systemic issues.
The endorsement is a blow to frontrunner Joe Biden and, to a lesser extent, Bernie Sanders, who has consistently polled in second place. The Times praised Warren's structural reform plans, calling her the 'standard-bearer for the Democratic left,' while highlighting Klobuchar's bipartisan credentials and potential as a unifier.
For the first time, the newspaper detailed its decision-making process in an episode of its television show 'The Weekly,' which featured interviews with nine leading Democratic candidates, including Biden, Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg. The Times previously endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary.
