PaleoMedia.org’s Hot 10 primary races

The Daily Newsrack

• Keith Roark, Idaho’s Democratic Party Chief, said today he will back Sen. Barack Obama, NewWest.net is reporting. Roark: “My lingering concerns about Senator Obama’s ability to take hard punches and keep going were laid to rest with the results of the primary contests last week in North Carolina and Indiana.” Kuraitis at NewWest.net. BW was at the same press conference. Last week Roark said the same thing but would not commit to Obama. PaleoMedia.org didn’t get the memo. :-) | Comments (0)
• Idaho Ron Paul supporters are active in every county, hoping to boost Paul within the state GOP. Quiet campaign has GOP regulars worried. Secretary of State Ben Ysursa: “We’re all a little concerned and we need to raise the flag and show up.” Paul supporters won’t talk to Popkey, in the Statesman. | Comments (0)
• Nancy Merrill, former Eagle mayor, is running a write-in campaign against Mike Moyle. Merrill was thought to be interested in the District 14 seat, but she failed to file for election, citing family concerns. Now the Statesman says she’s running. Merrill: “I decided to finish what I started. We need experienced representation, and I have an 18-year record of consensus-building and getting things done.” Talbutt, Stateman. | Comments (0)
• Dem Senate candidate LaRocco wants help for timber, PILT payments, rural broadband. Former Idaho congressman unveiled his economic stimulus package before the Kamiah chamber. Also calls for answers on contaminated sand: “As an Idaho citizen, I’m offended by the silence of our representatives. I need somebody to tell me why this stuff is coming to the state. I don’t want Idaho becoming a dumping ground.” No response from Risch, rest of the crowded GOP field. Cole in the LMT [subscrip]. | Comments (0)
• U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy hastens wolf hearing to Billings court. Sets hearing for May 29 in Missoula. Molloy: “The court is unwilling to risk more deaths by delaying its decision on plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction.” Government sought delay of hearing. AP on Google News. | Comments (1)
• Chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party Keith Roark all but backed Obama Wednesday after the N. Carolina/Indiana primaries. But last undeclared superdelegado in Idaho not quite decided. Roark: “I was impressed with Obama’s performance last night. That went a long way to settling my concerns and showed he could snap back and take a punch.” Hopkins in the Times-News. Druzin in the Statesman. | Comments (1)
• Rupert gym teacher accused of taking Mexican flag from student, racial slurs. Student tells paper teacher told him to carry the American flag, put small Mexican flag in the trash. Teacher denies racial slurs and says he was just trying to protect the kid. It was Cinco. El Chupacabras calls for silent protest at Minico High School. ACLU called. Friedman in the Times-News. | Comments (0)
• Congressional candidate Walt Minnick offered discounted gas to Boise drivers for about an hour Tuesday to highlight Rep. Bill Sali’s ties to oil and gas companies. Idaho GOP, Boise Weekly call it a stunt. Minnick: “Idahoans are being pummeled at the pump while their congressman is hobnobbing with the very people who are getting filthy rich from high gas prices.” Sali spokesman Wayne Hoffman: “Radical environmentalists like Walt Minnick are directly responsible for the environmental policies that have given us high gas prices.” Kuraitis on NewWest.net. Druzin in the Statesman. | Comments (0)
• The Boise police are investigating a mysterious break-in at Larry LaRocco’s Boise campaign offices. Nothing was taken in the break-in and LaRocco’s Democratic Senate campaign is suggesting it could have been politically motivated. Manager Bob Stout: “We will not know whether this was a politically motivated break-in or just a random act of senseless violence until the Boise police conclude their investigation.” Statesman. | Comments (0)
• State’s lawyers rank Supreme Court Justice Joel Horton higher than challenger John Bradbury. Horton favored in every district and in all categories. Now it’s up to the voters. Russell in the Spokesman Review. Survey here [pdf]. | Comments (0)