Shuffling the deck

Kempthorne at the Watershed - Updated

By Shea Andersen, 3-17-06

Yesterday's announcement of Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne to succeed outgoing Interior Secretary Gale Norton sets into motion a series of political happenings, some of which might resolve themselves today.

Certainly the big question is about Kempthorne's own legacy, which some observers (ahem) questioned before the announcement came.

Today that questioning continues, led here in Idaho by Randy Stapilus at Ridenbaugh Press.

But you might also wonder about a dozen other political destinies today. What about Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, who has to decide today whether or not to change his own political calculus in light of this news? Thankfully, John Miller at The Associated Press has done some pondering there.

Risch, as governor, will need a new lieutenant. Brad Hem at The Idaho Statesman hustled over to the Capital yesterday to figure out the succession.

Nationally, the news is abuzz with the prevailing wisdom on Kempthorne: a good guy, well-liked, not flashy, a compromise hunter, anti-species, pro-drilling, will breeze to confirmation.

Update:

Today Lt. Gov. Jim Risch stated his intent to stay where he is in the Statehouse, at least until Kempthorne is confirmed.

With his family behind him and holding his wife's hand, he said the political calculus he'd performed about the governor's race earlier this fall remains the same. He has once again cleared the way for U.S. Rep. Butch Otter to snag the nomination.

"There wasn't one singular reason, there were many reasons," Risch said. "If I entered a political campaign for governor at this time it would not serve the people of Idaho very well."

Pending Kempthorne's confirmation in the U.S. Senate, Risch would thus become a bit of a rarity: a sitting governor running for lieutenant governor.

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