The Des Moines Register on Saturday endorsed Mitt Romney, citing his �wisdom, sobriety and judgment.�

The editorial board of Iowa�s highest-circulated newspaper noted that it didn�t back the former Massachusetts governor in his last run four years ago, but argued �this is a different field, and he has matured as a candidate. Rebuilding the economy is the nation�s top priority, and Romney makes the best case among the Republicans that he could do that.�

The editorial went on at length to defend Romney against some of the attacks against him, paying particular attention to the charge that the candidate has flip-flopped on issues.

�Though Romney has tended to adapt some positions to different times and places, he is hardly unique. It should be possible for a politician to say, �I was wrong, and I have changed my mind.��

Until recently, Romney hadn�t been focusing as much attention on the state this year as in the 2008 cycle. But he�s stepped up his appearances there in the closing weeks before the Jan. 3 caucus, as Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul have been demonstrating increased strength there.

The Register took time out from expressing its support of Romney to blast those two.

�Newt Gingrich is an undisciplined partisan who would alienate, not unite, if he reverts to mean-spirited attacks on display as House speaker. Ron Paul�s libertarian ideology would lead to economic chaos and isolationism, neither of which this nation can afford,� the editorial board wrote.

But while the endorsement provides the Romney campaign an additional show of support ahead of the Jan. 3 caucuses in a fluid race that�s now on its fifth frontrunner in state polls, the newspaper hasn�t always been successful in swaying voters in the first-caucus state. Seen as a liberal-leaning editorial board, the state�s largest paper tends to carry more weight in Democratic primaries.

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