GOP congressional hopeful Vaughn Ward's campaign had this statement today in response to Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick's announcement of an "economic blitz" across the 1st Congressional District during the Congress' summer break, in which Minnick will host four events to connect Idaho companies and communities to federal funds in an effort to create jobs:

“Walter Minnick claims that his main focus is on creating jobs, yet his boss Nancy Pelosi continues to hurt the economy in Idaho by pushing through a stimulus bill that hasn’t created any jobs, cap and trade legislation that raises taxes on Idahoan families, and a socialized health care plan that costs more than $1.6 trillion dollars. Instead of mortgaging our children’s and grandchildren’s futures, Congress needs to focus on creating jobs through small business, providing real tax relief for Idahoan families, and fight to keep the federal government out of our daily lives.”

Minnick, a member of the conservative "Blue Dog Democrats" in the House, actually voted against the stimulus bill, one of just 11 Democrats in the House to do so. In addition to Ward, Idaho House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts is running in the GOP primary for a chance to challenge Minnick, and former GOP Rep. Bill Sali, whom Minnick defeated, is mulling a possible comeback. Ward, an Iraq war veteran, had raised $125,276 for his campaign through June 30; Roberts reported no campaign fundraising; Sali reported raising just $8,888. Minnick, who hasn't yet announced a re-election bid, has already piled up $598,616 in campaign contributions for the 2010 election, including donations from some prominent Idaho Republicans.

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