I had two initial reactions when reading the City Paper’s endorsements of Karl Dean and Howard Gentry for what is expected to be a runoff in Nashville’s mayoral race: One, is this a cop out not to pick a single candidate for mayor? Two, is this a wise, genuine and refreshingly candid move by the paper?

The City Paper recommends Nashvillians cast their votes for either Dean or Gentry, sending both men to an anticipated run-off where the future of our city can be debated in a civil, meaningful way between two public servants who have shown they know how to lead and understand Nashville.

I settled on the latter. There’s nothing wrong with making a traditional endorsement, but in a race where it has been tough for many voters to get to know five strong candidates, this is a great move. Instead of bestowing an endorsement on one candidate when a runoff is almost sure to follow, why not endorse two well-qualified leaders and let them keep working to make their cases for mayor if they make the cut on Election Day?

Aside: It’s also refreshing to see the CP endorse two opponents of another candidate whose banner ads on the CP site have been ubiquitous for weeks. Advertising and editorial should stay independent of each other, and they certainly have in this case. To be fair, I wouldn’t necessarily frown on a paper endorsing a candidate who happens to run ads in its publication, but with these endorsements from the CP, it’s clear the paper is not letting its margins detract from its mission. That should be applauded.

How’s this for a pun: “Karl racks up newspaper endorsements” [emphasis added]. It may draw a groan or two, but Dean is the one who’s laughing right now. The city’s three major newspapers have endorsed him for the city’s top job (though it should be noted that the City Paper co-endorsed opponent Howard Gentry). After running TV commercials in heavy rotations without appearing to make much of a dent in Bob Clement’s lead in the race, Dean has clearly gained momentum in recent weeks.

The City Paper’s Clint Brewer has noticed much the same strategy at play in the mayoral race that I have when it comes to political polling:

Please also realize it has become a routine part of any major political contest for candidates to simply attack polling that doesn’t suit them or bolster their own efforts. On this blog several days ago, a Clement supporter was critical of our newspaper even covering a WSMV Channel 4 poll on the race that showed Dean in the lead. My offer to publish stories on the internal polling of the campaigns stands, but they have to release it first.

Is there a practical alternative to this? Since polling is an art, not a science (despite the use of the term “scientific” to describe polls that are more objectively constructed than most), it’s easier to debunk a survey than, say, arguing that the sky is purple rather than blue. Considering that an earlier WSMV-TV was widely criticized for not being a representative sample, perhaps not.

One of my coworkers, who has seen his fair share of political campaigns and then some, once told me about his efforts years ago helping a local candidate in West Tennessee. A survey commissioned by the candidate showed that he wasn’t fairing very well in terms of public opinion. The candidate’s response? “Those people in Trenton,” he said in angry disbelief. “They lie!” Maybe they did, but their ballots didn’t: The candidate ultimately lost.

I’m with Brewer that a story on internal polls would be welcome. Come on, shillers, release the hounds!!

• Sam Davidson is on to something in regard to rising blog MCB and fading NiT: “If you can meet a need (and not just a want), you’ll be successful for longer and will reach more people. This what Music City Bloggers understands and Nashville is Talking forgot … People look for different perspectives, and Music City Bloggers provides this through a diversity of voices. Nashville is Talking once paid a person to have a unique voice but to also balance the varying opinions of the blogging community. Music City Bloggers offers this naturally with their diverse board of writers. Therefore, more time can be spent on doing what it does best (highlighting the local). It’s one thing to have a set of values; it’s a remarkable thing to embed those values in the way you do business. Here’s to hoping that Music City Bloggers continues to be a good destination for local writing, a way to highlight the good, and a way to connect people to one another.”
• Former NiT hostess Brittney has some sound advice for anyone looking to land in the blogosphere’s A-list: “Never start blogging under the impression that you are going to become famous. You aren’t. A rare few become “internet famous,” but not a damn one thus far has become truly famous. Fame is not what blogs are for. All that said, you should act like fame is in your near future. Because, if you don’t prepare for over-exposure, you will be sorry.”
• On to more important matters, Gavin Richardson has discovered yet another way to savor college football: “espn much to my surprise, has started a new program called college football live, which will respond to fans that are able to send in questions or input via email or video. i don’t see myself putting in questions or video, but i do see the dvr having another scheduled recording.  mostly, i am stoked that this means that college football [is] on the doorstep.”