Brockton Enterprise gives Coakley perhaps the most backhanded endorsement of all-time.

The Brockton Enterprise endorsed Coakley today, in what has to be the most backhanded endorsement of all time.

While the authors do note that Coakley, "is an intelligent and dedicated public official, who...has demonstrated knowledge and judgment on issues that affect every resident of Massachusetts," the editorial spends more words (192) criticizing Coakley than praising her (138).

The paper notes:

• That Coakley, "has built a barrier between herself and voters," 
• That, "her actions were cynical, nakedly political and completely counter to her desire to portray statesmanship," 
• And that, "the majority of the voters still don’t really know how Coakley will comport herself in Washington. Just as importantly, they do not have a sense as to how she will relate to and with her constituents."  

Um...that's not exactly inspiring people to go vote for her.  To make matters more confusing, the Enterprise says of Brown:

"Coakley’s opponent, state Sen. Scott Brown, has run an aggressive campaign and has appealed to voters by espousing smaller government and lower taxes. But in contrast to his main opponent, he has also allowed voters to feel that — somehow — they “know him.” He is — seemingly — a genuinely likeable person and projects a kind of ease in his manner that Coakley does not.  If he is not the ultimate victor in this campaign, we hope he decides to run again for elected office."

The only bad thing the paper says about Brown is that his Kennedy ad was absurd, and, "might have stood as the low point of the campaign if Coakley hadn’t taken things negative."

This has to be the strangest endorsement I have ever read.  It's like the Enterprise didn't read their entire editorial before picking their candidate.