NY Times editorial board endorses Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar for Democratic contest

The New York Times editorial board endorsed Sens Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts in the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on Sunday

After interviewing the top nine contenders on issues that are most important to voters in the heated 2020 election year, the board has thrown its support for the two female senators left in the race with less than a month before the Iowa caucuses.

"Ms Klobuchar and Ms Warren right now are the Democrats best equipped to lead that debate," the editorial board wrote. "May the best woman win."

However, the editorial board is separate from the New York Times newsroom.

The board's decision to back not one but two candidates is a significant break with convention, The New York Times reported.

"In this perilous moment, both the radical and the realist models warrant serious consideration. For this reason, we are breaking with convention and putting our support behind, not one, but two candidates."

Announcing the endorsement Sunday, the board said, "Senator Warren is a gifted storyteller and a brilliant architect of regulation, where we would push back on some specific policy proposals, we are struck by how effectively her message has matched the moment."

As for Klobuchar, the board said, "Senator Klobuchar has a lengthy resume in the Senate, and bipartisan credentials that make her an invaluable dealmaker, she's shown she can unite the party, and perhaps the nation."

Reacting to the endorsement Sunday night, Klobuchar tweeted it was "An honor!"

Just before midnight, Warren tweeted, "So, I guess @AmyKlobuchar and I are now both undefeated in elections and undefeated in New York Times endorsements!"

In an unusual twist, the board's decision this year was revealed on Sunday's episode of "The Weekly," which airs on FX (an American pay television channel owned by the Walt Disney Television unit of The Walt Disney Company through FX Networks, LLC).

The episode highlighted the board's process, where viewers were shown small portions of those interviews and the post-interview discussions by the editorial board of that particular candidate, which is usually done behind closed doors.

The editorial board, however, met with nine of the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination in December.

Three other candidates, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Michael Bloomberg and Julián Castro were also invited but they declined the invitation.

Moreover, California Sen Kamala Harris dropped out of the presidential race ahead of her endorsement interview. New Jersey Sen Cory Booker was among those nine who met with the board in December, but he has since ended his campaign.

The Times editorial board has been endorsing presidential candidates since 1860. In 2016, the board backed Hillary Clinton.