Roark has no illusions Democrats will take over Idaho: "This is a red state and will be a red state for a time to come." But he correctly observes that the savaging of Sullivan and the GOP move to kick out independents and Democrats who want to vote in GOP primaries will help Democrats. Republicans have controlled the Legislature since 1960 and dominated other offices because their party is home to moderates who control what Roark calls "the great center" of the electorate. "If you have to prove yourself to be a radical right-wing conservative, that's going to damage them," Roark said/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Related: GOP ready to rumble in Sandpoint/David Gunter, Hagadone News Network
*Folnagy father, son to be Dem delegates/Marc Stewart, Coeur d'Alene Press
*GOP establishment must be freaking out/James Bond, HBO

DFO: I agree with Popkey. The push for party purity by the GOP's Far Right is a turn off. Ditto for the push for closed primaries. Ditto for the push in Kootenai County to oppose important projects like the Kroc Center and the Education Corridor. I'm the type of voter that the Idaho GOP is losing as a result of heavy-handed tactics by legislative leadership and this push for party purity. I don't think I'm the only one either.

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