Howard Fineman attributes the victories of Obama and McCain in Florida to the high profile endorsements that each got this week. I think he misses the point.
Endorsements matter because they allow a candidate to have a story for one or two news cycles. If you do this enough, it helps get the media believing that you are winning. They help a little, but will not by themselves make a victory or defeat.
The real value is the perception that the media (including Fineman) place on them.
Endorsements Matter in 2008 | Newsweek Voices – Howard Fineman | Newsweek.com