At Adam's Blog Tuesday, blogger Adam Graham says he understands one of the reasons why state Rep. Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, refuses to meet with the Idaho Statesman Editorial Board. Palmer doesn't expect to win the Statesman endorsement. Seems several Republican candidates are bailing out of endorsement interviews this year. As the point man on Spokesman-Review editorial board interviews involving Idaho candidates for 13 years, I believe that Palmer and other R's who ignore a chance to talk to the newspaper are being short-sighted. Sure, they might not win an endorsement the first time or the second time. But eventually they might. More importantly, candidates who eschew meetings with an Editorial Board miss a chance to make a personal connection with key opinion makers in his area. They also miss a chance to dispel stereotypes -- that opinion writers and publishers may have of them and vice versa. I can think of several individuals I eventually supported personally after meeting with them face-to-face. If successful in their candidacies, the politicians will need their connections with the editorial board, endorsement or not, to push ideas and legislation. Someone like Palmer who disses an opinion editor or Editorial Board opportunity merely reinforces a stereotype that he isn't willing to tackle tough questions or talk with people who might disagree with him. I certainly wouldn't vote for him/DFO.

Question: Can you think of other reasons for a candidate not to accept an invitation for an Editorial Board endorsement interview?