2010: Houston Chronicle Endorses Bill White

First out of the gate among the big-city newspaper endorsers, the Houston Chronicle today threw its support behind favorite son Bill White, Houston's former mayor:

Texas faces an unprecedented budget deficit estimated at $21 billion, faltering health care and public education systems, and demands for new energy sources and transportation funding. For nearly a decade, Rick Perry — the longest-serving governor in Lone Star history — has been at the helm of an increasingly wayward ship.

Texas can't afford four more years of Perry's leadership.

...

Fortunately, voters have the opportunity to replace Republican Perry with former Houston Mayor Bill White, a Democrat with credentials as a successful lawyer, corporate CEO and public servant who demonstrated his management capabilities and hard-work ethic during a six-year tenure at City Hall.

As he did in Houston, White can bring innovative financial solutions, a passion for environmental protection, and a strong bipartisan and ethical commitment to a governor's office tarnished by charges of cronyism, partisanship and catering to contributors at the expense of constituents.

The Chronicle editorial quotes at length from White's appearance before the paper's editorial board; Perry has famously declined to appear before newspaper editorial boards. The Chronicle also criticized the governor for refusing to debate White, setting up the first general election campaign without a face-off between the major-party candidates since 1990.