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Editorial: It’s your decision

“If Obama wins,” our July 14 cover story, drew hundreds of messages from our readers. Some wondered if Sen. Barack Obama had advance knowledge of our questions — he did not.

Other readers were concerned that such front-page treatment indicated support for Obama, the Democrat, over Republican Sen. John McCain.

“I was kind of shocked,” wrote Army Sgt. Michael E. Blackmore of Daytona Beach, Fla. “I would have expected that any article on the upcoming election would have been bipartisan; an article sharing both the views, pros and cons of Obama and McCain at the same time.”

It’s a fair criticism, and as we get closer to the election, you can look forward to a side-by-side comparison of their positions on issues vital to service members.

At this stage, however, it’s important to give each candidate the chance to personally explain his stand on military issues.

Army Times has a long history of nonpartisan reporting. We strive for balance in everything we do. We have never endorsed a presidential candidate.

Many readers were unaware of our October interview with McCain (read it at http://www.militarytimes.com/mccaininterview). That interview was promoted with a Page 1 photograph in our Oct. 29 edition and the headline: “If I were president ...”

The interview was not the main cover story that week, however, as the primaries had not begun.

Much has changed in the past nine months, and troops deserve a fresh perspective from the Republican candidate. At the same time we invited Obama to meet with our editorial board, we offered McCain an opportunity to meet with us again. We’re working to secure that interview.

As we head into the final months of this most contested election campaign, our aim is not to favor one candidate over another, but to arm you, our readers, with the critical insight and knowledge you will need to decide for yourselves who to elect as the next commander in chief.

Share your views

Are we fair in our coverage of the presidential campaign? Tell us what you think at armylet@armytimes.com. Please put “Election” in the subject line.

DISCUSS: Has media coverage been fair to both candidates?