SF Chronicle to endorse neither Boxer, nor Fiorina

[](Boxer v. Fiorina (Image via PoliticsDaily))The San Francisco Chronicle’s editorial board surprised readers on Sunday with its decision to endorse neither the incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer, nor the challenger, Republican Carly Fiorina in this fall’s California U.S. Senate election.

“It is extremely rare that this editorial page would offer no recommendation on any race, particularly one of this importance. This is one necessary exception,” said the Chronicle.

The Chronicle justified its decision by portraying Boxer as an ineffective advocate and overly partisan senator. The board acknowledged that Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, would be a capable senator, but one whose beliefs are out of line with those of The Chronicle and the citizenry of California.

“Californians are left with a deeply unsatisfying choice for the U.S. Senate this year. The incumbent, Democrat Barbara Boxer, has failed to distinguish herself during her 18 years in office. There is no reason to believe that another six-year term would bring anything but more of the same uninspired representation. The challenger, Republican Carly Fiorina, has campaigned with a vigor and directness that suggests she could be effective in Washington – but for an agenda that would undermine this nation’s need to move forward on addressing serious issues such as climate change, health care and immigration.”

The Chronicle’s decision is a serious blow to Boxer’s re-election campaign. The Chronicle may be the nation’s most powerful far-left leaning newspaper and its decision not to endorse the Democratic candidate in a race for a U.S. senate seat shows that Boxer’s base is eroding at precisely the wrong time.