50-State Strategy: Idaho

Posted by on September 19, 2006 at 03:56 PM

Larry LaRocco, former Congressman and current candidate for Idaho Lt. Governor has a new ad on the radio.

From The Idaho Statesman:

A campaign radio ad airing in the Treasure Valley as soon as this week accuses Gov. Jim Risch of damaging school funding and hurting Idaho families with the property tax plan that passed during last month's special legislative session.

Larry LaRocco, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, paid for the ad and said it is his "September strategy" to let Idahoans know about the impact the tax shift will have on their lives.

On the campaign trial, LaRocco is having trouble pinning down his GOP opponent to debate as Risch and 2 other top-Gop candidates have refused to debate.

From Spokesman Review:

The Idaho Republican Party should be ashamed of three of its top candidates for statewide office.

For the third time this month, a Republican candidate for an executive office has rejected an invitation from the League of Women Voters and Idaho Press Club for a live statewide debate on Idaho Public Television. Last week, U.S. Rep. Butch Otter, who is running for governor, opted for a TV debate in the Boise area with more controls. On Sept. 1, Gov. Jim Risch declined an invitation to face Democrat Larry LaRocco on public television in their lieutenant governor race. On Wednesday, former legislator Donna Jones said she won't bother to debate Democrat Jackie Groves Twilegar in their controller race.

...

The attitude of the Republican candidates toward live public debates is a far cry from the one displayed by then U.S. Rep. Richard Stallings in the 1992 U.S. Senate race. Stallings interrupted his busy Capitol Hill schedule to meet Dirk Kempthorne in a series of eight debates. At the time Kempthorne said: "These debates will give Idaho voters a chance to hear a direct and open exchange of ideas on the issues facing the state and the nation."

The arrogance of the three front-running Republicans doesn't serve government or candidates well when a cynical citizenry already assumes the worst about both.

and LaRocco himself chimed in with an Op-Ed in The Post-Register:

As a U.S. Army veteran and former congressman, I have a record of public service. I believe I have earned my place in the traditional statewide television debate Nov. 1 as a candidate for Idaho’s lieutenant governor.

The Idaho Press Club, Idaho Public Television and the League of Women Voters had everything in place — as always. The format is tried and true. The broadcast network reaches the far corners of Idaho. The reporters are seasoned political observers.

Unfortunately, one person has been able to derail this traditional face-off. That person is my opponent, Jim Risch.

As a result of Jim Risch’s maneuvering, Idaho voters have been denied an opportunity to learn more about the issues important to their families. Once again, as with the recent special session of the Legislature, it was Risch’s way or the highway.

I have participated in this forum in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992 and 1994. It didn’t matter whether I was a candidate for an open seat, as a challenger or as an incumbent. I always showed up.

In the race to represent Idaho's 1st Congressional district, Larry Grant met with his opponent to debate recently. Over at the Grassroots for Grant blog, Julie Fanslow provides a wrap-up:

The first face-to-face meeting between Larry Grant and his opponent Bill Sali saw the candidates outline sharp differences in philosophy - just what voters will need to make up their minds on November 7.

Nearly 300 people packed the Lake Coeur d'Alene Room of North Idaho College's Edminster Student Union to hear the candidates answer questions in the first of several planned debates over the next five weeks. Although many people sported Grant or Sali stickers, others said beforehand they hadn't yet chosen their favorite candidate. By the end of the night, however, Larry easily garnered the loudest applause.

For a full blow-by-blow, make sure you read the whole entry.