ID-01: Why Is the GOP So Worried?

We know that the national GOP is worried about keeping what should be one of their safest seats: Idaho's first congressional district. It's an open seat, but has been held by Republicans since '94. But worried they are. Enough to trot Cheney out from his undisclosed bunker somewhere in the wilds of swank Jackson, WY for a big fundraiser this afternoon in Boise.

It turns out, though, that there's a good chunk of Idaho Republicans who are worried for another reason. They're actually worried that the GOP nominee, Bill Sali, will win.

[T]he long-term impact of Cheney's fly-by fundraiser will pale compared to the announcement today of a Republicans for Grant organization, giving license to Republicans to vote for a Democrat. . . . The erosion includes those outside the formal group. Longtime GOP contributor Warren McCain, a retired Albertsons CEO, is not joining but gave Grant $1,000. "I'm a Republican," McCain said, "but I'm a Republican for Grant."

Another important defection could come from GOP icon Phil Batt, former governor, party chairman and legislator. Batt won't vote for Grant but may withhold his vote for Sali because of Sali's vociferous right-wing record. "When I was thinking about running for a second term, he told the Wall Street Journal how worthless I was and how they were trying to get somebody to run against me," Batt told me.

Bill Sali is bad news for the Idaho GOP. He's been a divisive figure in the legislature, even within his own caucus. Here's what a few Republicans have had to say about him:

"That idiot is just an idiot. He doesn't have one ounce of empathy in his whole fricking body. And you can put that in the paper." Bruce Newcomb, Republican Speaker of the House, Idaho Statesman April 8, 2006

"(Sali) was incompetent in the Legislature. In the campaign he proved himself dishonest and deceitful, and he'd be an embarrassment to Idaho." Sen. Sheila Sorenson, Republican State Senator, Idaho Statesman, June 7, 2006

"He's an obstinate opportunist. He's become well-known for this throughout his career here. He wears it like a badge of honor." Rep. Dolores Crow, Republican State Representative, Idaho Statesman, April 8, 2006

"If you want to debate this, I'll put the House at ease and we can go back into my office and I'll throw you out the window." Republican Mike Simpson, Speaker of the Idaho House

"The third floor wasn't high enough. You should have taken him up to the fourth floor." House colleagues of Rep. Simpson, Idaho Statesman, April 7, 2006

"I talked to him several times over the years, I told him he needed to knuckle under and get some of these other things taken care of. In the end, I just didn't think he was very competent in his job." Republican Bruce Newcomb, Speaker of the Idaho House on stripping Sali of his committee chairmanship, Idaho Statesman, October 16, 2005

(Sali) "is disruptive" and "a bully." Republican Rep. Kathy Skippen, Idaho House of Representatives, The Idaho Statesman, April 8, 2006

It's pretty bad when you're own party defects, particulary when your party is the GOP and you're in Idaho. To make matters even worse for Sali, the Mike Simpson in the quotes above is currently the Congressman for ID-02. You can imagine he's thrilled with the possibility of serving again with crazy Sali.

Republicans for Grant see in Larry Grant someone they can work with. As they put it on their Web site:

Once in a while a leader comes along who cuts across the partisan divide, brings us together and works in the best interest of all Idahoans. Republicans, independents and Democrats have such a leader in Larry Grant.

Larry Grant is all that. He represents a chance to bring some balance back to Idaho politics, where the warped GOP stranglehold might finally be loosening. It's of tremendous significance that moderate Idaho Republicans (yes, there are some) are actually rebelling against the far-right wing of their party. Their cooperation is going to be key in electing this Democrat. If it could happen in Idaho, it could happen anywhere.

On the Web:

• Larry Grant's official campaign site (contribute here)
  
• Grassroots for Grant (blog)

Race tracker wiki: ID-01