L.A. Times drops Harris' declaration of support plan 'backstorms'

California's leading daily newspaper LA Times, home to Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and a political stronghold, has withdrawn its plan to declare support.

The New York Times (NYT) reported that the LA Times was scheduled to declare its support for Vice President Harris on the 26th, 10 days before the presidential election, but it was completely withdrawn due to opposition from the family of its owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong.

The LA Times has traditionally been a leading Democratic-leaning media outlet in progressive California.

"Vice President Harris, a California native and Los Angeles resident, was not only the only candidate to rally support internally on the editorial board, but also an important shield to stop Republican candidate Donald Trump," the New York Times said, adding that he faced strong opposition after the owner's family opposed the declaration of support.

Thousands of readers have been unsubscribed to the L.A. Times since the withdrawal of the actual Declaration of Support plan, and three executives have also resigned.

Nearly 200 employees have signed a public petition demanding clarification on the decision in the face of an imminent presidential election.

The owner's family is giving mixed explanations about the decision.

The owner, Dr. Soon-Shiong, said the decision was made out of neutrality, while his daughter, 31-year-old progressive activist Nika Soon-Shiong, said she did not declare her support because of Democrats and Vice President Harris' support policies for the Middle East war.

The Hill, a political media outlet, said that many media outlets, including the Washington Post (WP), as well as the LA Times, are withholding their declaration of support for the candidate in a very close situation.

To date, the NYT, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the New Yorker, and the Boston Globe have expressed their support for Vice President Harris.

The New York Post, the Washington Times and the Las Vegas Review-Journal support former President Trump.