An article by Dan Popkey in today's Idaho Statesman - top headline - focuses on how GOP congressional candidate Vaughn Ward has made cutting federal spending a focus of his campaign, but his wife, Kirsten, works as a technology project manager for Washington, D.C.-based Fannie Mae, a big recipient of federal bailout money, and it's her salary that's supporting the family while he campaigns full-time this year. You can read Popkey's full article here; the headline: "Ward's family supported by bailout."  

Meanwhile, Tom Sullivan, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, is making a bit of an odd offer - he'd like to debate Claude "Skip" Davis, GOP incumbent Mike Crapo's primary opponent, since Crapo bowed out of a debate with Davis, a real estate broker from Weiser, and Sullivan's primary opponent lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can click below to read Sullivan's press release, and here are links to read blog posts from Popkey and Idaho Statesman editorial page editor Kevin Richert about the dust-up.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4-22-2010

United States Senate candidate Tom Sullivan, a resident of Tetonia, Idaho, said today
he would be glad to debate United States Senate candidate Claude “Skip” Davis on
Idaho Public Television before the scheduled May 25th primary.

“I can certainly understand why incumbent Mike Crapo doesnʼt want to come back to
Idaho and have an honest discussion about the issues facing Idaho right now. If Iʼd
botched the economy the way he has, I wouldnʼt be anxious to face the voters either.
But Iʼll tell you right now, Iʼm here and Iʼm ready and if Skip wants to talk letʼs do it.”

Campaign officials have been in touch with Claude Davis to see if he is willing. They
have also contacted Idaho Public Television to see if the station will consider changing
their format.

“My opponent lives in Brooklyn and his opponent lives in Washington, and neither of
them is willing to come to Idaho for the scheduled debates. So it seems to me in their
absence the voters here would be well served to hear what Skip and I have to say.”

“And if Idaho Public Television isnʼt willing, I bet we could find another venue.”

###

---

---