My hometown of Twin Falls, Idaho, is probably most famous because of its association with Evel Knievel. In 1974 from a site about two miles from where I wrote this, Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon in a rocket-powered motorcycle.
He didn't make it. In a similar manner, Democrats who attempt to compete in Twin Falls County often meet a similar fate.
While Knievel ultimately failed, I believe his jump is not impossible given the right conditions and the right equipment. In a similar manner, Democrats can win here with the right campaigns. Further, we can do it without our supporters leaving bar tabs open for well over 30 years (which is most likely an apocryphal story of the Knievel jump, but nonetheless an amusing one).
The seat of Twin Falls County is Twin Falls city, a growing community of about 40,000 people. Twin Falls is a two-hour drive from Boise in the west, and another two-hour drive from Pocatello in the east. It's the largest city in 100 miles in any direction. As such, it serves as an economic and cultural center for south-central Idaho and northeastern Nevada.
Throughout the city of Twin Falls, there are reminders of Obama's presence. There's lawn signs scattered throughout the city, several others in downtown business windows. Cars with "Obama '08" or "Got Hope?" bumper stickers are fairly common.
By contrast, I have yet to see a single instance of McCain swag here (well, not counting the "Vote McPalin!" slogan written in soap on a truck parked in a trailer park not far from my house, seriously).
This in a town that even many Idaho Democrats have long considered a lost cause.
Although Twin Falls has not elected a Democrat to the state legislature since the 1930s, at the state level Twin Falls County is Idaho's most reliable political bellwether. It's traditionally Republican, but more moderate than conservative. Strong Democrats can and do win here. Cecil Andrus won here in all four of his gubernatorial triumphs, and Twin Falls County was the difference in Richard Stallings' unseating of George Hansen in the 1984 2nd CD race despite the Reagan landslide. Indeed, Twin Falls County has voted for the winner of every single statewide and 2nd CD Congressional race since 1990.
On the presidential level Twin Falls County hasn't voted for a Democrat in recent memory, but as I said in an earlier blog, times are changing here in the Gem State.
Realistically if Obama wins in Twin Falls County it would be a major upset. But he could get 40 percent here. In a state where presidential Democrats often fail to get over 30 percent of the vote, staying competitive in this quintessential bellwether county would be extremely significant.
And maybe, just maybe, the canyon won't look so daunting in the future.