Boise News

Column: U.S. Senate Race

Risch to Respond to LaRocco on KFXD

By Jill Kuraitis, 7-24-08

UPDATE, post-interview: Risch did not take calls from the public.

In response to former Congressman Larry LaRocco’s Monday interview, his opponent for U.S. Senate Lt. Gov. Jim Risch is scheduled for a half-hour on All-Talk AM 63 KFXD radio Friday morning at 7:30. 

Risch will be interviewed by regular co-host Chris Kelly and guest co-host Amy Atkins of the Boise Weekly, and it may be the first time he has agreed to be interviewed in a forum where questions from the public will be taken. 

Wednesday, the Idaho Statesman reported that Risch has now accepted an invitation to a debate proposed by LaRocco, in Lewiston, Wednesday October 8.  It will be televised live, with a live audience, from the Lewiston Community Center.

The campaign was invited to the debate by its sponsors the Lewiston Morning Tribune and KLEW.

“I look forward to a positive exchange on the issues,” said Lt. Risch.

The debate is the second that has both LaRocco and Risch scheduled. LaRocco has a series of joint appearences scheduled with independent candidate Rex Rammell. The other, sponsored by Boise NBC affiliate KTVB and others, is scheduled for October 21.

Risch has been conspicuously silent since he won the Republican primary to face LaRocco, has held no press conferences where reporters could ask questions, and has refused to debate LaRocco and independent candidate Rex Rammell.

It has long been traditional in Idaho for candidates to debate on a statewide televised event sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the Idaho Press Club, and Idaho Public Television.  The LaRocco campaign sent a registered letter to Risch asking if he will participate, and Risch has not answered.

Last week, Statesman editorial page editor Kevin Richert called on Risch to talk with voters – “It’s not that Risch is incapable of talking about what it will take to be an effective senator, or where he stands on the issues. It’s just that, as he runs a very detached and distant campaign, he’s not doing much talking at all with the voters,” Richert wrote.

Here was my take on it last week:  “Hanging out in the bunker is an arrogant technique practiced by candidates who feel so sure of their lead in the polls – and even surer of their own importance – that they see no need to expose themselves to the media, the public, or their opponents.”

Doing the right thing should be any candidate’s commitment.  His views, attitude, openness and willingness to answer any questions from voters – in public, uncontrolled, public formats, is the right thing.  It’s also an obligation, and says something important about what kind of Senator we’ll be electing.

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