Obama and Romney in second debate
Obama and Romney in second debateAFP/Stan Honda

The New York Daily News, New York Post and Long Island Newsday are among at least 30 newspapers that supported President Barack Obama in 2008 and have switched to backing Mitt Romney.

Nearly two dozen newspapers in “swing states” also have voted for a “change,” which was the Obama campaign's slogan four years ago.

The only major New York newspaper to stick with the president is The New York Times, whose liberal agenda has consistently sided with his administration and just as often has condemned Israel.

“Four years ago, the Daily News endorsed Obama, seeing a historic figure whose intelligence, political skills and empathy with common folk positioned him to build on the small practical experience he would bring to the world’s toughest job,” the newspaper’s editorial stated.

“We valued Obama’s pledge to govern with bold pragmatism and bipartisanship. The hopes of those days went unfulfilled.” it continued. The Daily News explained that it backs Romney because of smaller paychecks, fewer jobs and higher subway fares and gasoline prices.

“America’s heart, soul, brains and muscle -- the middle- and working-class people who make this nation great --  have been beset for too long by sapping economic decline,” the editorial stated. “So, too, (have) New York breadwinners and families.”

The University of California at Santa Barbara’s American Presidency Project reported that 11 major newspapers have abandoned Obama while the only one that switched to Obama was The San Antonio Express-News, which endorsed Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain in 2008.

Among the 11 newspapers now backing Romney are Florida’s Orlando Sentinel, the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Des Moines Register, two Texas newspapers and two in Los Angeles.

However, the influential Los Angeles Times stuck with President Obama, stating that “the nation has been well served by President Obama's steady leadership. And Mitt Romney has demonstrated clearly that he's the wrong choice.”

In swing stages, the Wisconsin State Journal was one of eight large newspapers in the state to switch sides from 2008 and endorse Romney. “This is not an easy endorsement to make,” it wrote in its Sunday editorial.

“Obama is the more likeable candidate and inspiring speaker. Obama inherited a mess from his predecessor, Republican President George W. Bush, who was even more disappointing than Obama has been,” the newspaper explained.

“But this election is about jobs, the slow economy and Washington’s dysfunction. Our leaders can’t even pass a budget, much less stabilize soaring debt that’s burdening our children and grandchildren….Obama is the president. The buck stops with him. This is now Obama’s economy, even though the GOP shares in the blame for partisan games.”

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel decided not to endorse either presidential candidate this year.

In all of the swing states, 24 media outlets support Romney and only 15 back Obama.

In Colorado, the Denver Post came out for Obama, but TheColorado Springs Gazette and The Pueblo Chieftain supported Romney. In Florida, seven newspapers came out for the Republican candidate and only 2 for the incumbent.  One of them was The Miami Herald.

The Des Moines Register and three other Iowa newspapers endorsed Romney and only one backed Obama.

Romney also won strong backing from media in New Hampshire, and North Carolina, while Ohio newspapers are split 4-4.