Las Vegas Review-Journal Endorses Romney

The largest newspaper in by far the largest city in Nevada, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, announced this morning its endorsement for Mitt Romney. The paper has backed both parties in the recent elections so this is a great pick-up for Romney.  In 2008 the Las Vegas Review-Journal endorsed candidate Obama John McCain and in 2004 the paper endorsed George Bush. [Note: I originally thought the paper backed Obama in 2008.  But they only endorsed him in the Democrat primaries.  In the general election they endorsed McCain. To all readers, especially Instapundit’s, my sincerest apologies]

No state had a bigger stake in Wednesday’s presidential debate than Nevada. No other state has suffered more economic hardship over the past five years. No state has a greater need for jobs than Nevada, which leads the nation with a real unemployment rate of at least 22 percent. No state will benefit more from a real economic recovery. Nevada is one of a handful of swing states that will decide which man wins the White House one month from now.

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On Wednesday night, Nevadans watched Mr. Romney trounce the president. The evidence Mr. Romney systematically laid out exposed how the president’s top-down interventions have virtually paralyzed our economy – and he presented a solution. Nevadans need a president with a vision and political philosophy capable of restoring ingenuity, competition and excellence to our education and health care systems, of paring back the budget deficit and the explosive growth of our debt, of keeping energy affordable, of bringing back jobs and prosperity not just here, but in every American city with residents who want enough economic security to be able to take a Las Vegas vacation.

The answer is pro-growth tax and regulatory reform. The answer is tax and regulatory certainty for businesses. The answer is growing our way out of the budget deficit with a broader, simpler tax base and reduced rates and deductions for all – especially the risk-taker, the job creator and the entrepreneur. More jobs equals more taxpayers.

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Mr. Romney is a Republican who was elected governor of heavily Democratic Massachusetts. He had to work with Democrats to get things done. His leadership and ability to bring people together saved the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. As a businessman, his management skills turned failing companies into profitable ones. Mr. Romney vows to do that, again, in Washington. If we are to avoid a lost decade and a future calamity created by inaction on entitlements and government growth, this nation needs a team of turnaround experts.

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Mr. Romney is a fine family man who donates millions of dollars to his church and charity every year. There is not a whiff of scandal about him. This is why his opponents have tried to turn his very successes against him. It’s all they have. Early voting in Nevada begins Oct. 20. Election Day is Nov. 6. Over the last few weeks of this campaign, Nevadans must ask themselves which candidate will embrace policies that will put the people of this state back to work, creating the jobs that lift our incomes, our home values and our hope. The choice is clear. Only Mitt Romney has the principles and experience needed to put America back on the road to prosperity. The Review-Journal endorses Mitt Romney for president of the United States.