the coloradoan endorsed markey this morning

[fizzgig]

After weighing the attributes each candidate brings to the table, the Coloradoan editorial board narrowly endorses Markey in this race.

As an incumbent, Markey has proved to be, for the most part, well reasoned in her decisions. Her motivation for voting for the health-care plan, including costs, benefits and long-term impact, were well thought out, although she stated her vote very late in the process. She voted against congressional raises. She advocates for a government pay-as-you-go budgeting law. However, we strongly disagree with her co-sponsorship of the Employee Free Choice Act, which essentially eliminates secret ballots for workers voting on forming unions.

We'd like to see her take a more centrist leadership role (she voted with Democrats 94 percent of the time). She touched on this opportunity when she participated in an effort to curb credit card companies from exploiting their positions prior to reforms taking place. Markey should spend more time in that leadership role than nervously gauging what will get her re-elected.

Gardner is a formidable candidate, and he very well could come away with a win. The reluctance in choosing Gardner, though, is that he is riding an anti-big-government wave that doesn't compel him to answer direct questions about how he expects to trim deficit spending and balance the budget beyond "looking for government waste." The editorial board didn't hear many solutions from him. Gardner's business experience and agricultural background along with a law degree give him diverse experience in a diverse district. He would bring a strong presence and a cooperative approach. But we came away unclear as to what he would do specifically to get the economy rolling again.

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20101017/OPINION01/10170327/Markey-earns-4th-District-endorsement