There’s a reason George W. Bush was the last governor to win the White House: In the 25-plus years since, governors have proved incapable of weathering the intense public scrutiny and navigating the media barrage of gotcha questions that accompany running for president.

There are reasons for that.

As local television news divisions have shrunk and as local and regional newspapers have done the same — or ceased operations entirely — the press corps devoted to covering governors (and state legislatures) in America’s 50 capital cities has followed suit.

Governors might enjoy the freedom to maneuver, politically and legislatively, without the biblical flood of questions from reporters. But it’s cost them valuable experience dealing with pressure from an often-hostile media that picks apart

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