Idaho Politics: U.S. Congress
Larry Grant Drops Out of Race for Congress, Pledges to Help Minnick
By Jill Kuraitis, 4-10-08
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| Former Gov. Cecil Andrus, Larry Grant, and Walt Minnick | |
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Candidate for the Democratic nomination for Idaho’s 1st Congressional District Larry Grant today dropped out of the race and threw his support to his opponent Walt Minnick.
Former Gov. Cecil Andrus kicked off downtown Boise press conference by calling Grant “a great American, a great Democrat, a friend of mine.”
Saying “there isn’t ten cents of difference” between his views and Minnick’s, Grant pledged to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Minnick to help beat Republican Congressman Bill Sali.
“My campaign has never been about personal ambition,” said Grant.
“An opportunity for Democrats like this doesn’t come along very often. I don’t want to be standing here in November asking ‘what did we do wrong?’ The objective is to beat Bill Sali.”
Walt Minnick said, “What Larry is doing is truly extraordinary. He’s put his desire to serve in federal office on hold temporarily to do something greater – to put the Democratic party and the people of Idaho first, to remove Bill Sali from office.”
Calling Sali “the most embarrassing and ineffective Congressman we’ve ever had” Minnick gave Grant credit for being “the foremost public spokesman to reveal Bill Sali’s voting record, which is abysmal.”
Grant said the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC, would invest in the race now that there is no primary. Andrus said, “This will be a targeted race.” Minnick said the DCCC has 60 targeted races which will receive significant support, and his campaign is one of them.
“The Republicans have also identified the race as a seat seriously in peril,” Minnick said. “Both parties see it the same way.”
Minnick said Grant’s “selfless act” was the most important thing that could be done, and that Grant’s “superb” campaign organization has opened doors for a Democrat to win.
Note: Larry Grant is a former executive for Micron, Inc. and Walt Minnick is a former timber executive and Boise businessman.
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Comments
Thanks dems! You forced the stronger candidate out because you are not able to stand up to your has-been leader.
A happy day for the GOP!
Larry Grant did a fine and selfless thing in unifying the Democratic party today, Cecil Andrus still is more popular than any Idahoan alive of either party, and Walt Minnick is going to win this congressional race in November. Take that to the bank, pal.
At least Walt may break 40% this time around.
Funny thing is, I have no love for Sali. I just am humored when the democrat party eats their own.
You off work today Mike or using the county's computer for campaign related bizness?
Oh, I seem to remember people making bold predictions that Larry Grant would "win in November" of '06, when the hated Bill Sali wasn't yet an incumbent.
Fact is, Mike, you're getting a little ahead of yourself in putting such certainty in Retread Minnick. Did you have that same kind of certainty he was going to win in '96? '06 was a good year for Dems nationally, but the Idaho Donkeys found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, yet again. Until they prove otherwise, the only thing I'll "bank" on from the Dems is incompetence and the inability to connect with voters.
Some, of course, will attempt to extrapolate to GOP gains and Democratic disarray from this, or the phase of the moon. From their handles, would we expect anything more?
It does seem less than "d"emocratic for "D"emocrats to shun healthy primary challenges. Good candidates should not be eliminated before the primary. The criticism should be aimed at a campaign finance system that eliminates competition when there should be a variety of choices, or why bother with an election in the first place? As long as candidates are positive, a primary challenge shows that the party is strong, diverse and invigorated and the process should strengthen, rather than divide.
As for the relative criticisms of our Democratic leadership and that of the GOP, that can definitely can go in a hole, or something. What a hoot! The only thing that our GOP delegation could lead us towards is a contribution from Jack Abramoff, or the location of a lobbyists yacht party. Perhaps a restroom?
Of course Walt would provide superior service to Bill Sali. From the reputation that they have established for themselves as a party, I can think of few that deserve the "R" brand more than silly Sali, creepy Craig, Carribean Crapo and manic Mike. Let's at least get rid of one of these guys!
We are getting rid of Craig. What we need to start focusing on is how to prevent "righteous" Risch from replacing him.