Here's why..the overriding issue to Mort is the safety, security..nay, the existence of Israel..It defines him...what he stands for..and he knows that the Dems, despite what Kerrys et al may say now..well, they're basically pro-Palestinian..and that Israel cannot afford a Dem administration..Kerry would bug out of Iraq..and that would tell the crazies that Israel stands alone..
Still, I can't remember the last time "The Daily News" has endorsed a Republican presidential candidate.
Though I've been wrong about these things before.
Back when Giuliani was running for reelection as mayor, Ed Koch made the bold proclamation that the NYT would endorse his reelection bid.
I was initially very skeptical, but after reading their endorsement on their editorial pages, I realized that I had been proven wrong.
Though, just as I believe that the parochial business concerns of its owner overruled the ed. page's ideological predilections in that case, so too will Zuckerman maintain his longtime political/business associations in deference to his concern for longstanding U.S. and Israeli security policy.
This election is too big for Zuckerman to stab his best friends, and longtime patrons, in the back.
If he does endorse Kerry on the other hand, he will have burnt no bridges, and can easily support any Bush foreign policies in a prospective second term.