Stephanie Cutter: Des Moines Register Endorsement of Romney 'Not Based on Reality'

In a surprise, the Des Moines Register, Iowa’s largest and most influential newspaper, has endorsed Mitt Romney for president. The paper endorsed Obama in 2008:

While the editorial praised both Romney and Obama, the decision ultimately came down to one question, the newspaper stated. “Which candidate could forge the compromises in Congress to achieve these goals? When the question is framed in those terms, Mitt Romney emerges the stronger candidate.”

According to the announcement, the editorial board, which enthusiastically endorsed Romney ahead of the state’s Republican presidential caucuses in January, had “a vigorous debate” over which candidate to choose for the November election.

While “Romney has made rebuilding the economy his No. 1 campaign priority,” the paper stated, “the president’s best efforts to resuscitate the stumbling economy have fallen short. Nothing indicates it would change with a second term in the White House.”

The editorial board said the country needed a “renewed sense of confidence” in the economy. “That should come with Mitt Romney in the White House.”

Obama’s deputy campaign manager, Stephanie Cutter, complained that the paper’s endorsement “didn’t seem to be based at all in reality.”

I guess it depends on what your definition of “reality” is:

“It was a little surprising to read that editorial, because it didn’t seem to be based at all in reality — not just in the president’s record, but in Mitt Romney’s record,” Cutter said. “It says that he’d reach across the aisle, which he’d do the exact opposite. It’s the exact opposite of what he did in Massachusetts.”

This proves Ms. Cutter’s idea of “reality” is a little off the wall. The Massachusetts legislature was 85% Democrat when Mitt Romney was governor. Considering all of his accomplishments, just how does Ms. Cutter think Romney got anything done? Unlike Obama, Mr. Romney is not blessed with Lightworker powers and was forced to work with a Democrat legislature to pass his legislative program.

Romney was endorsed by four major newspapers in Iowa today: