Great Moments in Subtweeting

I like the shade the Des Moines Register editorial board throws on the Times here:

Each of the remaining candidates campaigning across Iowa ahead of the caucuses could make a fine president. Each would be more inclusive and thoughtful than the current occupant of the White House. Each would treat truth as something that matters. Each would conduct foreign policy by coalition building rather than by whim and tweet.

The outstanding caliber of Democratic candidates makes it difficult to choose just one. 

But ultimately Iowa caucusgoers need to do that. Who would make the best president at this point in the country’s history? At a time when the economic deck has become so stacked against working Americans that the gap between rich and poor is the highest in more than 50 years? At a time when a generation of war has stressed military families and sapped the treasury?

The Des Moines Register editorial board endorses Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses as the best leader for these times. 

As for what this means…well, the Register‘s endorsement is rare for a newspaper endorsement in that it’s actually material:

LOL at the importance of newspaper endorsements in general but the Des Moines Register endorsement tonight could actually matter. Historically, it helps the endorsee by 3 points which matters in a race where the top 4 candidates are separated by ~5 points.https://t.co/L8iMGV5hPH— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) January 25, 2020

Will 3 points be enough to make Warren the winner of the primary? Seems unlikely. But it does seem likely to keep her above the critical 15% threshold for delegates and makes a distant third or worse that would make this an almost immediate two-man race less likely.