The Opelika-Auburn News has endorsed John McCain for president.

For a rundown of other (pre-News) newspaper editorial endorsements from around the state, check out Wade on Birmingham. (Thanks to Danny at Doc’s for the tip.)

In addition to rounding up the endorsements so far, Wade opines thoughtfully and intelligently about the role and importance of newspapers’ editorial endorsements. I would add to his comments that endorsements that are properly done—i.e., based on strong reporting and an unvarnished view of the facts surrounding a race—provide clarity to campaigns that are increasingly becoming cluttered with non-issues. They provide leadership to their communities on who is truly best suited to serve.

With that said, like all things, not all editorial endorsements are properly done—and that’s a shame. Because newspapers that produce substandard endorsements further reinforce readers’ creeping feelings that their paper just isn’t as useful to them as it used to be.