The Des Moines Register on Saturday endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton for their parties' presidential nominations, just nine days before Iowa caucus-goers cast ballots in the early voting state.
"Rubio has the potential to chart a new direction for the party, and perhaps the nation, with his message of restoring the American dream," the editorial board said in an editorial published on its website Saturday evening. "We endorse him because he represents his party's best hope."
Among Democrats, the newspaper's editorial said of Clinton that there is no candidate that "can match the depth or breadth of her knowledge and experience." The editorial addressed Clinton's only statistical rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and his style, saying, "In the final analysis, Iowa Democrats will have to choose between the lofty idealism of Bernie Sanders and the down-to-earth pragmatism of Hillary Clinton. For some, this will be a choice of whether to vote with their hearts or their heads."
The endorsements could have an impact on caucus voters. As much as 56 percent of Iowans could change their minds about their first choice or do not have a first choice at all, according to a poll by the Des Moines Register earlier this month.
In recent Iowa polling, Rubio is in a distant third at 11 percent behind Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, who have 28.7 percent and 26.2 percent support, respectively, according to RealClear Politics averages of recent polls. Among Democrats, Clinton has a lead of 47.9 percent to 41.5 percent for Bernie Sanders in the same tabulation. Martin O'Malley is in a distant third at 5.5 percent.
The editorial board noted that they interviewed every major 2016 candidate, with the exception of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, who declined the board's invitation for an interview, "but doing so did not disqualify them from consideration for the endorsement," the Register said, according to CNN.
