Amy Klobuchar earned our endorsement.
She won it from an editorial board that, like much of the electorate just two weeks away from the Iowa caucuses, has struggled with how to assess the large field of candidates vying for the Democrats’ 2020 presidential nomination.
How did she do it?
She won our confidence with her three-term record in the U.S. Senate representing the state of Minnesota.
She won our confidence with the way she's campaigned in Iowa for more than a year.
She won our endorsement by convincing us that, among her rivals, in this divided political culture, she is the best person to push through an agenda that will better the lives of millions of Americans, including those of us who live in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
Throughout much of the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, Klobuchar has been dubbed a moderate.
To many, this is a moniker that implies slow incrementalism.
In truth, that label belies Amy Klobuchar's vision and her record.
Only in this campaign could it be considered incrementalist to want to make community college, the engine of progress for so many middle-class Americans, free.
Only in this campaign could somebody with a plan to open the door to health care for millions of Americans through Medicare or Medicaid be dubbed just a moderate.
Only in this campaign could somebody with a plan to curb fossil fuel emissions by 2050 be labeled middle-of-the-road.
In truth, Amy Klobuchar is a progressive realist.
So, what does she offer?
On health care, she offers a plan (not a "pipe dream," as she puts it) to vastly improve coverage with a public option for people priced out of the private insurance market. Her expansion of public health programs to millions more Americans would be historic.
On climate change, she is as aggressive as any of her rivals on the things that matter most. Her plan would expand renewable fuels and put a price on carbon to lower emissions to net zero by 2050. She would, in her first 100 days, rejoin the community of nations fighting global warming, restore plans to cut emissions at power plants, and make our cars more fuel efficient.
Klobuchar offers an aggressive, wide-ranging agenda in those first 100 days to improve the daily lives of Americans.
You have free articles remaining.
She would protect health care coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions. She would grant the FDA authority to import less expensive prescription drugs from Canada, easing the burden on Americans. She would expand VA health benefits for women and propose new investments for public education to help teachers, poor students and those with disabilities. She would launch new initiatives to address mental health and addiction issues in this country.
Klobuchar offers ideas to expand paid family leave to up to 12 weeks and raise worker pay.
She has a real infrastructure plan.
On foreign policy, she offers a clear vision and sensible approach. She would turn again to diplomacy. She would stand up to China but take a more sensible approach. She recognizes the value of foreign aid and trade to our international alliances. She would work immediately to beef up cybersecurity.
Klobuchar's agenda impressed us, but it wasn't what impressed us most.
This editorial board has had the opportunity to sit down with nearly a dozen candidates, most of them for an hour and some for longer. We heard lots of plans, lots of debate. We got to hear how each would work to get their ideas through Congress.
Klobuchar convinced us she is the one who is most likely to be successful.
A Minnesotan and former prosecutor, Klobuchar is a pragmatist. But she also struck us as a good strategist. She knows well the members of the Senate, where so many good ideas have been stymied. She convinced us she knows the levers to pull, the incentives to offer, and where to turn to get the votes needed for success.
She's led on dozens of bipartisan proposals that have cleared Congress. She worked on the bipartisan immigration bill that cleared the Senate in 2013. The legislation failed in the House, but Senate passage was a significant achievement in itself.
During this campaign, Klobuchar has tried to persuade Democrats she can beat President Donald Trump; that she appeals to voters who live in places like rural and rust-belt America who turned to Trump in 2016.
We think there’s something to that. (We would note we won't make a general election endorsement until later this year. But if Democrats are basing their decision on who can win in the fall, it's hard to beat Klobuchar's appeal.)
More importantly to us, Amy Klobuchar is somebody who offers the most hope among the Democratic candidates that progress isn’t just a campaign slogan destined to die in the harsh reality of Washington politics.
We believe she can actually cut through the obstacles and move forward; that her Midwestern grit is a reason for hope.
We endorse Amy Klobuchar.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar during the editorial board meeting at the Quad-City Times, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 in Davenport.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar during the editorial board meeting at the Quad-City Times, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 in Davenport.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar during the editorial board meeting at the Quad-City Times, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 in Davenport.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar during the editorial board meeting at the Quad-City Times, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 in Davenport.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar during the editorial board meeting at the Quad-City Times, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 in Davenport.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Alane Watkins of Camanche has her picture taken with Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar during a stop at Ross, Restaurant, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Bettendorf.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar talks to the crowd at Ross' Restaurant on Saturday in Bettendorf.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar talks to the crowd during a campaign stop at Ross' Restaurant, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Bettendorf.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar is greeted by supporters as she enters Ross' Restaurant, for a campaign stop, in December in Bettendorf.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Julie Bacon of Rock Island, left, has her picture taken with Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar, along with Zeke Hartman and Jessica Hartman of Columbus, Ohio during a campaign stop at Ross' Restaurant, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Bettendorf.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar talks to the crowd at Ross' Restaurant, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Bettendorf.
Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar laughs as she is introduced by Iowa State Rep. District 90 Cindy Winckler during a campaign stop at Ross' Restaurant, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Bettendorf.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-01.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., spoke to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-02.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., spoke to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-03.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., spoke to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-04.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., walks with her team into the German American Heritage Center to speak with guest, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-05.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., flashes a smile before walking into the German American Heritage Center to speak with guest, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-06.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., shakes hands with Deborah Soodhalter of Bettendorf before entering the German American Heritage Center to speak with guest, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-07.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., takes a selfie with Deborah Soodhalter of Bettendorf and Jane Duax of Davenport before entering the German American Heritage Center to speak with guest, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-08.jpg

Guest attending U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaking at the German American Heritage Center, place stickers on after signing in, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-09.jpg

Iowa State Rep. Cindy Winckler introduces U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., before speaking to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-10.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., shakes hands before speaking to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-11.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., spoke to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-12.jpg

Guest listen to U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-13.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-14.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., flashes a smile before walking into the German American Heritage Center, Davenport, to speak in October. Klobuchar’s Democratic presidential campaign picked up another endorsement from an Iowa state legislator: Iowa Rep. Cindy Winckler, of Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-15.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-16.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
101919-mda-nws-klobuchar-17.jpg

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks to guest at the German American Heritage Center, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Davenport.
070419-mus-klobuchar-001

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota spoke to about sixty local residents during a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine, Iowa Wednesday, July 3, 2019. The stop is part of Klobuchar's three-day tour of Iowa and the senator's ninth trip to the state since announcing her candidacy in February.
070419-mus-klobuchar-002

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota made a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine, Iowa Wednesday, July 3, 2019. The stop is part of Klobuchar's three-day tour of Iowa and the senator's ninth trip to the state since announcing her candidacy in February.
070419-mus-klobuchar-003

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota made a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine, Iowa Wednesday, July 3, 2019. The stop is part of Klobuchar's three-day tour of Iowa and the senator's ninth trip to the state since announcing her candidacy in February.
070419-mus-klobuchar-004

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota made a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine on Wednesday. The stop is part of Klobuchar's three-day tour of Iowa and the senator's ninth trip to the state since announcing her candidacy in February.
070419-mus-klobuchar-005

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota made a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine, Iowa Wednesday, July 3, 2019. The stop is part of Klobuchar's three-day tour of Iowa and the senator's ninth trip to the state since announcing her candidacy in February.
070419-mus-klobuchar-006

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota answers a question from the media following a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine, Iowa Wednesday, July 3, 2019.
070419-mus-klobuchar-007

Cindy Bryant of Muscatine asked Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota how she would take on pharmaceutical companies and the rising cost of prescription drugs.
070419-mus-klobuchar-008

Stacy Emrich, left and Joel Higgins, right get their picture taken with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota during a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine, Iowa Wednesday, July 3, 2019.
070419-mus-klobuchar-009

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota stops to sign a copy of her book, "The Senator Next Door: A Memoir from the Heartland" during a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine, Iowa Wednesday, July 3, 2019.
070419-mus-klobuchar-010

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota made a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine on July 3.Â
070419-mus-klobuchar-011

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota made a campaign stop at Missipi Brew in Muscatine. The stop is part of Klobuchar's three-day tour of Iowa and the senator's ninth trip to the state since announcing her candidacy in February.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-001

Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks to a crowd during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-002

Sen. Amy Klobuchar listens to Vietnam veteran Mike Martin of Davenport talk about some of his concerns during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-003

Vietnam veteran Mike Martin of Davenport holds a button in support of Sen. Amy Klobuchar during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-004

Sen. Amy Klobuchar shakes hands with attendees as she arrives at a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-005

Sarah Pearson of Milwaukee asks a question about minimum wage to Sen. Amy Klobuchar during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-006

Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks to a crowd during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-007

Vietnam veteran Mike Martin of Davenport wipes a tear from his eye as Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks about her experiences working with the late Sen. John McCain during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-008

Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks to a crowd during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport in March. Klobuchar will make a campaign stop in Muscatine on Wednesday.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-009

Ruth Quick of Davenport listens to Sen. Amy Klobuchar speak during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-010

Sarah Pearson of Milwaukee asks a question about minimum wage to Sen. Amy Klobuchar during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-011

Sen. Amy Klobuchar reaches out to hug Linda Martin of Davenport, wife of Vietnam veteran Mike Martin who spoke with Klobuchar, during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-012

Signs for Sen. Amy Klobuchar's campaign are seen on the doors of Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-013

The front of Hickory Garden Family Restaurant is seen before a meet and greet is held for Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-014

An attendee signs in before a meet and greet with Sen. Amy Klobuchar at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-015

Sen. Amy Klobuchar talks with members of the media after a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-016

A woman takes a selfie with Sen. Amy Klobuchar as she arrives for a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-017

A woman listens to Sen. Amy Klobuchar during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-018

Attendees listen to Sen. Amy Klobuchar speak during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-019

Sen. Amy Klobuchar shakes hands with guests during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-020

Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-021

John Bessler, husband of Sen. Amy Klobuchar, stands and listens to his wife speak during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-022

A sign for Sen. Amy Klobuchar falls as she speaks during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-023

Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks to guests during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-024

Sen. Amy Klobuchar laughs during a media conference after a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.
031819-qct-qca-klobuchar-025

Sen. Amy Klobuchar stands and speaks to attendees during a meet and greet at Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport, Sunday, March 17, 2019.