Anchorage Daily News predictably supports... Obama?

Well, you cannot accuse them of touting the hometown hero, I suppose.

The Anchorage Daily News has come out with its presidential endorsement - and Sarah Palin's presence on the GOP ticket was apparently not enough to get the rag's support. In fact, apparently Palin's presence is the very reason that the paper offered (in conjunction with McCain's age and health) not to support the Republican ticket:

Yet despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.

Of course, my first thought was "look - there is intelligent life in the 49th state, after all!" But when you think about it, that's a pretty gutsy call. Anchorage ain't Chicago, where you can alienate the hometown hero and still have a very good circulation. The biggest city in Alaska, it boasts a shade under 280,000 residents - or about as many as, say, a decent-sized suburb of a major "lower 48" city. I can't imagine most of the readership (Alaska is projected to go overwhelmingly GOP, with or without Palin) will be too happy with the Daily News' endorsement.

On the other hand, perhaps it isn't such a courageous call. After all, what other local paper serves as an alternative if many Anchorage residents, outraged over the rejection of Governor You Betcha, decide to cancel their Daily News subscription? No, that was a serious question - what other paper is there? Is there one? Perhaps bucking the popular pick isn't so adventurous when you have no downside to doing it because you're the only game in town.

The downside of this endorsement: Anchorage Daily News doesn't exactly always pick winners. Four years ago, it endorsed Kerry. I'm hoping this year's endorsement turns out a bit better.