Nice Guys Sometimes Opt Not to Finish

By Shea Andersen, 4-10-06

When a candidate drops out of a primary challenge, you hear things about how the decision came down: cold political calculus, hard looks at their financial situation, and bitter folding of their cards.

But in the case of Idaho Congressional hopefuls Craig Cooper and Jim Hansen, both Democrats, it turns out the departure was less about hard-core politics and more about friendly support.

Cooper and Hansen have been a bit of a political odd couple -- instead of barnstorming around their Eastern Idaho district separately, they actually carpooled to events together. Along the way, they said, they would talk about the issues and the campaign. Now, that familiarity has bred not contempt, but rapport, and a new, single candidate.

It's been an unlikely pairing, but just the sort of thing you might imagine shoulda/coulda/woulda happened out in the rural West, where the highways are long and the opportunities to meet the people are far between.

Idaho's left-wing blogosphere has been abuzz about this: The Political Game, managed by Idaho State University Student Tara Rowe, had it first and fullest.

According to Rowe's report, from a public forum in Pocatello:

Cooper stated that "there is one person here tonight who has proven experience uniting Idaho's families. That man is Jim Hansen, and I am formally announcing my support for Jim for Congress."

You might also follow us to Ridenbaugh Press, to pick up Randy Stapilus's take on the situation. [End of article]