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Arizona Republic is latest highly conservative paper to blast Trump, endorse Clinton

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio, on Sept. 21, 2016.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio, on Sept. 21, 2016.

(Evan Vucci / AP)
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The Republican Party’s decision to nominate Donald Trump for president continues to force some unusual decisions by newspaper editorial boards.

First the Dallas Morning News broke with decades of tradition by endorsing Hillary Clinton, its first Democratic choice for president since before World War II. In a seperate editorial, the board called out Trump specifically as unqualified for office.

Then the New Hampshire Union Leader ended a century of endorsing Republican candidates and backed libertarian Gary Johnson.

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On Friday, the Cincinnati Enquirer joined the ranks of staunchly Republican editorial boards spurning Trump.

“The Enquirer has supported Republicans for president for almost a century – a tradition this editorial board doesn’t take lightly,” the editors wrote. “But this is not a traditional race, and these are not traditional times.”

Calling Trump “a clear and present danger to our country,” the newspaper is backing Clinton.

But perhaps no endorsement has raised more eyebrows than that of the Arizona Republic, which picked Clinton over Trump on Tuesday, the first time the paper’s editorial board has ever endorsed a Democrat for the Oval Office since it was founded over 100 years ago.

“Since The Arizona Republic began publication in 1890, we have never endorsed a Democrat over a Republican for president. Never. This reflects a deep philosophical appreciation for conservative ideals and Republican principles,” the paper wrote. “This year is different. The 2016 Republican candidate is not conservative and he is not qualified.”

The editorial board acknowledged that they view Clinton as flawed, but called the former secretary of state a tough, intelligent centrist. Measured in tone, but scathing in substance, the Republic skewered Trump’s centerpiece policy position on immigration as well as his tone and temperament, saying a Trump administration was a “recipe for permanent civil discord.”

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This story was originally published on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 when the Enquirer endorsed Clinton. It was updated Wednesday, Sept. 28 to reflect the Republic’s endorsement.

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