The Union Leader, New Hampshire’s most prominent and influential newspaper, endorsed Newt Gingrich for president this morning in an editorial:

America is at a crucial crossroads. It is not going to be enough to merely replace Barack Obama next year. We are in critical need of the innovative, forward-looking strategy and positive leadership that Gingrich has shown he is capable of providing.
He did so with the Contract with America. He did it in bringing in the first Republican House in 40 years and by forging balanced budgets and even a surplus despite the political challenge of dealing with a Democratic President. A lot of candidates say they’re going to improve Washington. Newt Gingrich has actually done that, and in this race he offers the best shot of doing it again. …
Newt Gingrich is by no means the perfect candidate. But Republican primary voters too often make the mistake of preferring an unattainable ideal to the best candidate who is actually running. In this incredibly important election, that candidate is Newt Gingrich. He has the experience, the leadership qualities and the vision to lead this country in these trying times. He is worthy of your support on January 10.

The Union Leader doesn’t tend to pick winners in their endorsements: although they backed John McCain in 2008 (who won the Granite State and of course, the nomination), the paper had previously backed Steve Forbes in 2000 and Pat Buchanan in 1992 and 1996. But for Gingrich, who is trying to erase the double-digit gap between himself and Mitt Romney in the state that recent polls (with one exception) show, this endorsement could help him get some momentum.