Perry won’t seek newspaper endorsements while Hutchison is noncommittal

In a major rebuke to the state’s media establishment, Gov. Rick Perry will not meet with newspaper editorial boards to try to win their endorsement before his March 2 primary.

“In the final weeks of the campaign, a better use of the governor’s time is to continue traveling the state talking to Texans about the issues that are important to them,” said Perry spokesman Mark Miner.

Jennifer Baker, a spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, was noncommittal about whether Hutchison would sit with editorial boards, saying, “There are hundreds of newspapers in Texas. We are reviewing each request as it comes to us.”

Candidates from both parties typically seek newspaper endorsements in the primaries and general elections by meeting with the papers’ editorial boards. But many Republicans believe that their voters are distrustful of newspaper editorial boards. Plus, seeking the endorsements can be a laborious process, requiring hours of meetings all over the state.

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