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__ Endorsement Watch __ Throughout the next two weeks, Early Returns will report on the latest endorsements in the presidential race, as well as in key House, Senate and gubernatorial contests. Tomorrow: early congressional endorsements.
__ More Campaign Coverage __ • Howard Kurtz's Media Notes • CQ Races to Watch

With 15 days left before voters go to the polls, this weekend marked the first major round of editorial endorsements by the nation's leading newspapers. Like the electorate, editorial boards are split.

On Sunday, The Washington Post endorsed Vice President Gore and The New York Times officially backed the U.S. Senate candidacy of first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. Many newspapers are already in the process of recommending local, state and congressional candidates, but few of the top-circulating dailies have yet to sound off on the presidential race or other high-profile campaigns.
• Al Gore for President (The Washington Post, 10/22/00)
• Hillary Clinton for the Senate (The New York Times, 10/22/00)

Not surprisingly, Texas Gov. George W. Bush is getting strong support from the editorial pages in his home state. The Austin-American Statesman writes that regardless of disagreements on policy, "...we know him and we respect him. Moreover, we trust him." The Dallas Morning News argues that Bush is "the man to restore integrity to the White House," while the San Antonio Express-News gushes over Bush's "willingness to work with lawmakers in both parties, and his ability to build a strong governing team..."
• George W. Bush (The Dallas Morning News, 10/22/00)
• Bush Has Right Combination to Be President (Austin American-Statesman, 10/22/00)
• Editorial: Bush Right Choice for White House (San Antonio Express-News, 10/22/00)

Aside from The Washington Post, Gore has received a number of high-profile endorsements already, including support from several key newspapers in critical swing states, such as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in Missouri, the Star Tribune in Minnesota, the Detroit Free Press in Michigan, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in Washington. Some highlights:
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Mr. Gore has prepared for this daunting job for three decades ... Mr. Bush, his likable opponent, doesn't have what it takes. His resume is thin and his command of issues is thinner. This is a man who governs the biggest state in the lower 48 from 9-5, with two hours out for lunch." (10/22/00)
• Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Today's good times may lull Americans into thinking the occupier of the presidency doesn't really matter. But even a cursory look at the issues facing America shows that the stakes in this election are high and America's choices are clear." (10/22/00)
• Detroit Free Press: "For the continuity of what has gone right for America in recent years, for the dedication and experience he would bring to the office and for his truly compassionate view of issues that affect so many Americans, we believe Al Gore should be America's next president." (10/22/00)
• Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "As a result of this training, we believe that Gore would take his seat behind the desk in the Oval Office and discharge its awesome responsibilities without missing a beat; this man does not have a steep learning curve." (10/22/00)

But Bush has received his own share of support from editorialists in swing states, including Michigan's Detroit News, Washington's Seattle Times, Ohio's Cleveland Plain Dealer and Minnesota's St. Paul Pioneer Press (editorial not online):
• The Detroit News: "The nation is enjoying the legacy of government restraint initiated by President Ronald Reagan. But we can't expect to coast on the current prosperity ... George W. Bush has the commitment, vision and courage necessary to keep America growing." (10/22/00)
• Seattle Times: "How Bush became the candidate of this editorial page that endorsed Michael Dukakis, Bill Clinton and ... the fledgling campaign of Sen. Bill Bradley, is a tale of this political year ... In the end, this was not a decision based on offices held or promises made, it was about the qualities Americans need and deserve in those who hold public trust." (10/22/00)
• The Plain Dealer: "...Bush possesses a quality his opponent, Al Gore, cannot claim: authenticity. After nearly eight years of the Clinton-Gore administration, we believe Americans long for leadership that will not hide behind the absence of a 'controlling legal authority' to justify its actions." (10/22/00)

More endorsements for Gore:
• San Francisco Chronicle: "It will take seasoned judgment, leadership and familiarity with the world to keep the United States on top on the complex and ever-changing global challenges. Gore ... offers on-the-job experience. His foreign affairs Rolodex and his extensive travels provide him with a clear advantage in anticipating problems, making judgments and in advocating America's case." (10/22/00)
• Sacramento Bee: "By a clear margin, the distinctions favor Gore, a tested leader. The next president must steer the country through an era of unprecedented change and complexity at home and abroad—a job that demands the experience, intelligence and judgment that Gore has demonstrated in his career." (10/22/00)
• Las Vegas Sun: "Gore and Bush are honorable men, yet on issue after issue, Gore's policies are in the best interests of both our nation and Nevada. The vice president, through word and deed, has earned the trust necessary to lead this nation. " (10/22/00)

More endorsements for Bush:
• Portland Oregonian: "Neither candidate in this campaign has captured the public imagination the way a Roosevelt, Kennedy or Reagan might. But on a range of topics, and in a variety of ways, we think Bush has shown he has the intellect, character, fortitude and talent to be a better president." (10/22/00)
• Richmond Times-Dispatch: "George Bush is vastly better than the alternative on character, philosophy, and the issues. What's more, in Texas, where he is wildly popular, he has demonstrated amply that he can succeed. Al Gore, a central player in the most miserable administration in modern times, goes around pledging to do what he and the Clintons have failed to do in eight years—or to reverse the deterioration they permitted." (10/22/00)
• The Columbus Dispatch: "The Dispatch urges Ohio voters to cast their ballots for George W. Bush on Nov. 7. Bush believes that Americans ought to control their own lives and money and that government should be the last resort, not the first, when problems must be solved." (10/22/00)
• Manchester Union-Leader: "Bush casually mentioned that Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, and Larry Lindsey are already advising his campaign. Then Bush pointed to ... vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney. If Bush’s Cabinet members are men and women as solid and professional as those four, this country will once again be led by honorable, patriotic adults. That prospect alone is reason enough to vote for Bush." (10/22/00)
• The Washington Times: "Texas Gov. George W. Bush far surpasses Vice President Al Gore whether the qualifications are measured in terms of political priorities, leadership, personal character, governmental philosophies or vision of the future. On issue after issue ... Mr. Bush offers the correct approach to the problems confronting America." (10/22/00)
• Las Vegas Review-Journal: "The new economy and the new century demand a new vision. On issues including entitlements, education, tax policy, the environment, and the role of the federal government, Mr. Bush has put forth innovative proposals that break from the typical beltway perspective. Mr. Gore has largely embraced the status quo." (10/22/00)

Jason Thompson can be reached at jason.thompson@washingtonpost.com. Early Returns runs Monday-Thursday.