“There’s Something Happening” In Idaho

By Joan McCarter, 4-15-08

The latest news from Idaho is at least intriguing:

Last week, Caldwell High School held its mock presidential nominating conventions, organized by government teacher Jeanette Jackson every four years since 1996. Students pick their party affiliations and, until this year, they reflected Canyon County’s GOP loyalty. The last time the presidential race was wide open - Bush-Gore, in 2000 - Republicans outnumbered Democrats about 400 to 200.

The ratio was reversed last week, with 487 students at the Democratic convention on Thursday and 199 with the GOP on Wednesday.

“I personally want to see the looks on your parents’ faces when they find out where you hung out today,” said Caitlin Hogge, an 18-year-old senior whose nominating speech helped Democrat John Edwards to a second-place finish ahead of Hillary Clinton. Obama won in a walk, with 423 delegate votes.

Jessica Madrigal, co-chairwoman of the mock Democratic convention, said young people are questioning their family political roots.

“My parents vote primarily Republican,” said Madrigal, 18, who attended the Democratic caucus for Obama in February. “We’re tired of voting in our parents’ place. We’re ready for something new. We’re practicing our right to decide for ourselves.”

Canyon Democrats see the interest among young voters as an opportunity to seriously compete and maybe even pick off a seat or two from Canyon’s all-GOP legislative delegation. “I believe there’s something happening, and we need to pay attention to it,” said Maria Mabbutt, a former Canyon Democratic Party chairwoman....

Mabbutt, the former party chairwoman, said young voters give Democrats realistic hopes for “one or two” legislative races. Her husband, Richard, is one of six Democrats running. In six other Canyon races, Republicans are unopposed.

“Republicans say, ‘Oh, this is just the Obama factor and it doesn’t go very deep,’” Mabbutt said. “I don’t believe that’s the case. I believe there is hope. People want change, and we have an opportunity. Young people will be very key.”

Canyon County has long been the bane of Idaho Democrats. Making inroads into this county has always been a priority, and always been hopeless. It’s Idaho’s second largest, close enough to Boise that one would think that some of the Boise’s blue would be wearing off on it. It’s also among the most ethnically diverse of Idaho’s counties, with a vibrant Latino community. But the county gave Bush 75% in 2004. A gain of a one or two legislative seats from Canyon County would be huge for the Dems. If Mabbutt is right, and these young voters stay engaged, it will also be key for the Senate and 1st Congressional district races.

Larry LaRocco, Idaho’s Dem Senate candidate, spoke to the convention. I asked him about the experience:

I had a great reception there. I did what Frank Church always said to do:  unload the whole bale of hay. I treated them like I was speaking at the convention in Denver. They hooted and hollered and at the end a group got on their feet yelling Larry! Larry! Larry! (Think Jerry Springer and you’ll get the cadence). They were very engaged. Very sincere about the seriousness of their job there. A band played beforehand for mood. Sunglasses donned the faces of the “security detail” at the front door checking credentials as the students took their secret service roles seriously. There were standards everywhere adorned with the names of states.... The Convention was diverse and represented Canyon County. I thought they were quite attentive and serious. They definitely knew what they were doing:  taking their state back, displaying considerable energy and thinking independently.

Ok, so it’s just a mock convention in a high school in Idaho, but it was enough of an event for Idaho’s top political reporter and columnist to note. And it didn’t happen in isolation. It’s building on the 14,000 people who turned up at Obama’s Boise rally before the state’s caucus, and the history-making Democratic caucuses in the state. It exemplifies the desire for change that’s been building in the Mountain West, and Obama’s ability to speak to it. If candidates like LaRocco can tap into that, if they can keep the fervor and enthusiasm alive and translate it into boots on the ground between now and November, Idaho can turn just a little bit purple.

But what does it mean for Obama himself? The the state has voted for a Democratic president only two times since 1948. It’s pretty unlikely Obama can turn back six decades of voting habit. All the same, there’s those kids:

The daily phone calls. The midnight e-mail. And, when college lets out, those dinner table declamations? Oh, please.

Senator Barack Obama’s devotees just won’t give their parents a break.

As the race for the Democratic presidential nomination continues, youthful volunteers for each candidate have been campaigning with bright-eyed brio, not only door-to-door but also at home. But the young supporters of Mr. Obama, who has captured a majority of under-30 primary voters, seem to be leading in the pestering sweepstakes. They send their parents the latest Obama YouTube videos, blog exhortations and “Tell Your Mama/Vote for Obama!” bumper stickers....

Thus did Ralph E. Simpson Jr., 50, construction company owner, become a newly minted Democrat. “I probably will switch my affiliation back,” Mr. Simpson said, “but I haven’t decided who I will vote for in the general election. If Meg keeps working on me, who knows?”

So get to work, young people of Idaho! You’ve got a lot to do, both on the trail and at home.

Editor’s note: Joan McCarter’s weekly blogs are part of NewWest.Net/Politics’ “Diary of a Mad Voter” feature, a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post’s Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the ‘08 election cycle. For more columns check in with www.newwest.net/madvoter. And for more information on each of the bloggers, click here.