I just brought up that Honolulu paper’s coverage of Obama’s Hawaiian adventure, and here’s the Los Angeles Times on this and that:

The reporters — sometimes awe-struck — jump at the chance. They get to boast to readers and viewers that they got an “exclusive” with a national figure (even if the interview lasts just five minutes). And the candidates get to send their message into voters’ homes — often with little or no critical analysis.

Barack Obama and John McCain have made a significant push for local media coverage in recent weeks — often to loud protests from the big guns from Washington and New York, who got stuck on the plane or bus, demanding face time with the candidates.

It’s tempting to dump all over this seemingly cynical process. But what in presidential campaign coverage isn’t a little cynical or, at least, symbiotic?

After looking at a lot of local news reports this week, I found a fabulously mixed bag. Many small-town reporters allowed the candidates to deliver their message of the day without imposing their own priorities or horse-race histrionics. Imagine that.

Thats James Roney, the LAT media reporter, hat tip Romanesko, and this has given me the idea to watch the smaller market media more closely. I live in a smaller market, but Presidential candidates do not come here. (Obama was here when he was running against Hillary, but he showed up, bowled, and left.)