Do political endorsements matter?

Do endorsements affect your choice of whom to vote for?

The Christian Post asks the question of whether endorsements matter in a story about the upcoming Iowa caucuses, where candidates are seeking any thumbs up they can get.

Leading political analysts who have been around awhile remember when endorsements played a key role in campaigns, but now many are saying a big name may be good for headlines but brings few in any votes.

If endorsements do matter to you, which endorsers have the most impact? Other politicians? Newspapers or other media sources? Pastors or political action groups?

I worked at a newspaper for 30 years, and can’t say that I ever saw an endorsement by the editorial board have a true impact on a race, although it would be hard to tell if it did. If anything, an endorsement would only serve to rile up opposition. In fact, I came to resent such endorsements when they were made by people who didn’t live in the affected districts.

So what do you think? Are endorsements worth anything, or do you ignore them?

(Note: We’re NOT asking who you’re endorsing!)