Bush's hometown paper endorses Kerry.
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Tue Sep 28, 1:19 PM ET

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) -

The newspaper in President Bush's adopted hometown of
Crawford Texas threw its support on Tuesday behind Bush's Democratic
rival, Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites).

The weekly Lone Star Iconoclast criticized Bush's handling of the war
in Iraq (news - web sites) and for turning budget surpluses into record
deficits.

The editorial also criticized Bush's proposals on Social Security
(news - web sites) and Medicare.

"The publishers of The Iconoclast endorsed Bush four years ago, based
on the things he promised, not on this smoke-screened agenda,

" the newspaper said in its editorial. "Today, we are endorsing his
opponent, John Kerry."

It urged "Texans not to rate the candidate by his hometown or even his
political party, but instead by where he intends to take the country."

Bush spends many of his weekends and holidays at his Crawford, Texas,
ranch.

The Iconoclast's publisher and editor-in-chief, W. Leon Smith, said
the newspaper is sent to Bush's ranch each week. "But I don't know if
he reads it," Smith said.

The Kerry campaign welcomed the endorsement in an email to reporters.