Column: U.S. Senate Race

LaRocco, Rammell Challenge “Missing Man” at Unusual Press Conference

By Jill Kuraitis, 7-11-08

A press conference held by two opposing candidates who called on the third to “come out of the bunker and actually campaign” may never have happened in Idaho until today.

At least, nobody I talked to could remember one. Starring Senate candidates Larry LaRocco (D) and Rex Rammell (I), the unusual joint occasion showcased two articulate, civilized and friendly candidates who have been appearing at the same events all over Idaho.

“We’ve gotten to know each other on the campaign trail and both of us believe in public discourse,” said LaRocco.

LaRocco said that he and Rammell will hold a series of live debates “all over Idaho” and they were both challenging Risch today to debate in all of them. “But there’s a pattern that’s developed with our opponent Jim Risch.  He dodged debates in 2006 and 2008, and so far, we don’t see that he’s even campaigned at all in this election.”

“My style is reaching out to the people of Idaho – so is Rex’s – but Risch’s style is to buy media, do direct mail, and dodge the debates. Risch stays in the bunker.”

Rammell said Risch should “make it known right now” if he’s going to show up at the debates.  “I personally challenge him to face us in live, public debates with an open format,” he told New West.

Preliminary plans are to hold debates in Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow/Lewiston, IdahoFalls, Pocatello, Twin Falls, and several locations in the Treasure Valley.

The Invisible Risch
Asked if Risch and Rammell have been in touch, Rammell said, “I have not communicated with Risch and I have not seen him.”

“He did not attend the [Republican Party] convention in Sandpoint.  He spoke at a dinner outside the convention, but I think it’s the first time in Idaho history that a U.S. Senate candidate didn’t show up at his own party’s convention.”

LaRocco pointed out to the reporters in attendance that Risch has had “zero press conferences, zero press releases, zero public forums.”

Later, Rammell told New West, “If Risch doesn’t participate in debates, we’re not afraid to talk about Jim without him there.”

There’s no getting around that Rammell can’t hope to win, but he can drain votes away from Risch as long as he keeps presenting himself as “the true conservative in this race,” which is his favorite line. Asked if it bothered him that he may end up a Risch spoiler who throws the race to LaRocco, Rammell said he believed that we were standing in front of the next U.S. Senator from Idaho – either him or LaRocco.

Risch Ignores the Media, his Opponents
It was a more than righteous press conference. Not only has Risch avoided personal campaigning and any forum which would require him to answer questions, he has been frustrating reporters for months now with refusals to make comments, return phone calls, or even have his staff return them.

Multiple requests from New West for return calls have resulted in none.  Months ago, Risch’s son Jason, who is the press contact for the campaign, once called me back to say he did too call me back, and I should stop claiming he hasn’t. But he didn’t answer the question I had called about, and that’s the last time I’ve had any contact with the Risch campaign.

Two other reporters I know report almost identical stories, and one more at the press conference Friday said the only response from Risch has been to say he won’t be commenting on anything LaRocco or Rammell say because it would be “negative campaigning.”

Risch is scheduled for a half-hour live interview on July 26 with Pocatello TV station KPVI, where Rammell and LaRocco have already been interviewed.  But that’s a forum where Risch gets to say exactly what he likes, with no challenges from his opponents or the public.

LaRocco used part of his KPVI interview to issue debate invitations to Risch.  Risch hasn’t responded.  It will be interesting to see if the KPVI reporter pushes the question.

UPDATE: The Risch campaign issued this response by email: “Lt. Governor Risch has confirmed he is scheduled to participate in a statewide U.S. Senate Candidate debate on Oct. 21, 2008. This debate will be televised several times throughout the State of Idaho and is sponsored by a statewide coalition of television, radio, and newspaper outlets. The debate will also be broadcast on the web. The campaign is currently working with other debate and forum sponsors across the state.”

Lt. Governor Risch said “I look forward to a positive and informative debate from the candidates on issues challenging Idaho and America.”

That begs the question of how “Risch’s” debates will be formatted.  Will they be live, or taped?  Taping allows for the possibility of creative editing by....whomever. Will candidates ask each other questions?  Is the spirit of the event to allow a free exchange of ideas, or is it to be a tightly controlled, no-freelancing format?  Most important, will the media be allowed in the room? 

During the Republican primary debate, the format - controlled by KTVB in Boise - didn’t allow reporters.  The setup was filmed and presented later.
(end of update)

What IS Risch doing all these months?
Disrespectful, offensive, rude – all those apply.  But I can almost guarantee that Risch doesn’t give one dang darn.

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.

So the short answer to “why isn’t Risch campaigning?  Why won’t he debate?” is probably “because he thinks he doesn’t have to.” He’s doing what’s called “sitting on his lead” – and evidently he doesn’t know that too much sitting can lead to heart attacks.

Not only is this technique one more of Risch’s antiquated characteristics – like the one where he declared he didn’t read online news or blogs - it’s a slap in the face to every Idahoan.

Risch is saying, “It’s my turn now. I’m the Republican. There you have it, voters.” I can almost picture the patronizing pats on their heads.

Can Larry LaRocco or Rex Rammell hope to overcome the automatic voters who check the Rs down the whole ballot, without really knowing the candidate or the issues?

I’d say that the nonstop, in-person, statewide retail campaigning done by LaRocco and Rammell will have an impact on Risch’s chances, and it’s to his peril he continues to ignore his responsibility to present his points of view.

Yes, his responsibility.

Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.