Idaho Senate: GOP’s Risch Is Far Ahead 58% to 30%

Rasmussen Reports ^ | September 11, 2008

[Clintonfatigued]

Thursday, September 11, 2008 Email to a Friend Republicans in Idaho appear to have safely weathered the Larry Craig scandal, with the GOP candidate for his seat in the Senate ahead nearly two-to-one over his Democratic opponent.

Jim Risch, Idaho’s current lieutenant governor, leads Larry LaRocco, a former congressman, 58% to 30% in the first Rasmussen Reports survey of voters in the state. Risch served briefly as governor in 2006 after the elected chief executive was appointed to President Bush’s Cabinet.

Interestingly, Risch just defeated LaRocco in 2006 to be reelected lieutenant governor and also beat him 20 years earlier in a state senate race. LaRocco served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives but was defeated when seeking a third term in 1994. He is the last Democrat to date to represent Idaho in Congress.

[Clintonfatigued]

Had the DemocRATS found a better candidate, they would have had a shot here, albeit an outside one. But Larry LaRocco is a poor choice, given that he had a sex scandal of his own years ago, one which helped deep-six his Congressional career. I guess the DemocRATS have decided to focus on unseating Bill Sali.

[GOP_Raider]

I’m not the biggest Jim Risch fan in the world—he was rather rude to my grandfather a while ago when grandpa was active in the Idaho State Bowhunters—but LaRocco needs to go away and go away post haste.

[Onelifetogive]

They really don’t have to poll Idaho Denocrats...They can just ask them.

[GOP_Raider]

At the East entrance to the University of Idaho in Moscow The FR Idaho Ping List FReepmail GOP_Raider to be on or off this list

[GOP_Raider]

They really don’t have to poll Idaho Denocrats...They can just ask them.

True, but nobody wants to go to Sun Valley and Ketchum voluntarily. :)

[GOP_Raider]

I guess the DemocRATS have decided to focus on unseating Bill Sali.

Walt Minnick has been airing TV spots here proclaiming his "conservative" ideals against Sali. I do have some faith in my fellow conservatives in my district to see right through this attempt for an Idaho Dim to become Nancy Pelosi's pet poodle.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Sali is on my list of 30 vulnerables. The RINO establishment hates him more than the Democrats do. They’re happy to see Minnick beat him.

[RobinOfKingston]

He is the last Democrat to date to represent Idaho in Congress.

I look forward to the day when we can accurately say that sentence without including "to date."

[Impy]

I thought LaRocco was their strongest candidate.

I think they had a statewide office holder prior to 06, (maybe wrong?) he/she would have been a stronger candidate.

[Impy]

Sadly I think some libs have been moving into your state.

[fieldmarshaldj]

LaRocco was the last Democrat to win federal office from Idaho. The problem for him is that he hasn't won office in 16 years. This is also the third time he has faced Jim Risch. Risch beat him for a legislative (State Senate) seat in 1986, and in 2006 for Lt Governor, and will likely do so again. Risch is popular, period, and could've created a real problem in '06 when Kempthorne resigned as Governor and might've decided he wouldn't relinquish the Governorship to Butch Otter, but he kept his word and as sitting Governor, ran again for another term as Lt Governor, avoiding an ugly battle. That demonstrated enormous character on his part, and should be rewarded, and is now.