That's the message from the newspaper editorial boards in the 5th Congressional District when it comes to the Democratic primary between Carol Castagnero, John Russell and David Werder.

The Orlando Sentinel couldn't stomach endorsing one of the three challengers who will face off against Republican Ginny Brown-Waite. The headline on their non-endorsement says it all, "We Think: The Democrats deserve better candidates."

The Citrus County Chronicle took the same approach. "The three Democrat candidates in the District Five U.S. House of Representatives race offer voters three distinct personalities to choose from. Unfortunately, we can't, in good faith, encourage voters to support any one of these individuals over the others," the paper's editorial board wrote.

Other editorial boards -- the opinion wing of the newspaper that has no influence in the news operation -- felt that if voters have to choose, then they do, too. But they aren't issuing ringing endorsements. The Times and Tribune both picked Russell as "the best choice in a weak field."

--John Frank, Times staff writer