Next week’s GOP legislative leadership races may hinge on, well, leadership. That’s fitting, since there aren’t deep philosophical distinctions between the candidates. And the absence of ideological differences makes the races even tougher to handicap. The House speaker’s race is a referendum on Lawerence Denney’s six error-filled years at the helm. His kid-gloves treatment of ethics-optional Phil Hart. His heavy-handed dumping of two committee chairs who were too independent (read: moderate) for his liking. His bungled attempt to fire former state Rep. Dolores Crow from a state redistricting commission/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Does it really matter whether Scott Bedke becomes House Speaker or Lawerence Denney continues in the role?