The filing period for candidates has just begun in Idaho and I am so disappointed. As far as I know a Democrat has yet to file to run against Mike Simpson in CD-2.
Isn't everyone saying this is the year of years to run as a Democrat! After all GWB is finishing up the worst presidency ever! And I guess most of you are all aware of that whole Larry Craig thing. Yah, us folks here in Idaho remember that, too.
So what is the deal? Why would anyone stall hesitate to run in this Idahoan district under these conditions?
For starters, I suppose I'd have to explain the complicated dynamics of it all. CD-2 is a huge district complex district to run in. It starts as a small chunk of Boise in western Idaho and it extends 400 miles to the east to Yellowstone and down to the Utah border. More simply put, it is a vast empty area of sagebrush, mountains, forests and farm towns.
The voters are largely rural in the district and they are wary of "city slickers comin' on down from Boise" or that "fancy resort town of Sun Valley." I am so serious though, you just say Boise or Sun Valley and the bumpkins start rolling their eyes.
So what is the mold we are looking for? The best way to appeal to the voters would be through progressive politics. Someone who is the working class hero; a firefighter, a teacher, a miner, or a farmer. Someone like Schweitzer or a Wellstone type perhaps. Then again, a Wellstone type would work anywhere. And also a Joseph Smith or a Brigham Young type. Yes, there are a lot of people of the LDS faith/Mormons in CD-2.
This most likely scares off a bunch of people from running. In fact, the last Dem to win CD-2 here in I-dee-ho was Richard Stallings, and oddly enough he is an awesome Wellstone type, a professor, and LDS. He served four or five terms and is well known and like today in Idaho politics. Then again, he barely won by 200 votes to George V. Hansen, in 1984, who was censured for ethics violations.
Jim Hansen (no relation to George Hansen) is the candidate who ran in 2006. Most people are presuming he will run and I hope he will. Oddly enough Jim has said to me that most candidates must commit to running at least twice to win. I think he needs to put his money where his mouth is, eh! Jim is an awesome progressive. But he won't throw in the hat.
The reason for this is that he is busy on the ground trying to round up people to run for state legislator throughout the state. This state legislator we got in I-dee-ho is a awful. The Idaho Legislature has the worst R-D ratio in the whole nation and the oldest state legislature in the nation.
Jim is doing some honorable work but c'mon we gotta get him in the race. We can't let those Repugs save campaign cash or have an uncontested race ANYWHERE!
UPDATE 1A: I am assuming Obama is on the top of the ticket. He would give everyone under him the boost needed to win. Sorry HRC, the small states do matter if you want to have a filibuster proof house and senate.
UPDATE 2B: I just got a 3am phone call telling me that Richard Stallings doesn't even live in Idaho now. So don't vote for him in my professional polling type poll below. The only polling firms I am qualified to work for are Zogby and FOX NEWS.