In a clear sign that the movement is gaining steam, newspapers across the country are weighing in with editorials. Here are a few that ran within the past couple of days:

Rocky Mountain News

Here's hoping a handful of Democrats break ranks and put free speech above party loyalty. President Bush would surely sign Pence's bill. And Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is a sponsor of the Senate version.

Daily Herald (Utah)

But this isn't a complex issue that requires deep study. It's very simple and clear: Reviving the Fairness Doctrine would be a flagrant attempt to stifle free speech for the benefit of a political party that is not now, and may never be, very popular in broadcast programming.

Augusta Chronicle

Democratic nominee-to-be Barack Obama has said he "doesn't support" the Fairness Doctrine. But that's different from opposing it. It's possible the tepid "doesn't support it" could change or simply yield under pressure from his Democratic colleagues. And, as columnist and Phoenix radio talk show host Austin Hill notes, Obama once was a huge proponent of spending limits under public financing of presidential campaigns -- until he found he could raise a lot of money and spend it with no limits.

White House weighs in

In addition, the White House weighed in last week, with White House Press Secretary Dana Perino saying the President supports the Broadcaster Freedom Act and Congressman Pence’s efforts to bring it to the floor for a vote. Human Events has the story here.

Excerpt:

Perino did not rule out helping Pence round up the signatures he needs to get his measure out of committee. When I asked if the President or other Administration officials would help Pence in getting the required signatures on the discharge petition, she replied: “I’ll see if there’s anything [the] legislative affairs office [in the White House] is working on in that regard.”

Discharge Petition update

The discharge petition currently has 196 signatures. Only 22 more are needed to bring the Broadcaster Freedom Act to the floor for a vote. Click here for a list of signatures (note: some Members on this list may not be serving any longer, hence the different total).