One could view this debate, the first between all three major candidates, as a legitimate test regarding whether each achieved their objectives.

• The Democratic nominee, A.J. Bulakoff, a successful Boise businessman and a long-time leader on the Boise school board, had to convince teachers, like Kathy, that he was truly a supporter of education and for restoring funding for programs and teachers salaries decimated by cuts orchestrated by Governor Otter during his two terms.
• Governor Otter had to defend his rationale for the cuts by convincing voters that despite the cuts Idaho was still holding its own in national test scores and that Idaho’s educational system was producing employable graduates. Otter needed to shift the public focus away from education to his view that Idaho’s economy and its people are doing well.
• The Libertarian candidate, former Republican and Canyon County prosecutor John Bujack, had to convince the audience that a third party candidate could succeed in winning the governorship and then actually leading the state without a party to support him.

Bulakoff gets an A; Bujack gets a B; and, Otter gets an F/Chris Carlson, Carlson Cronicles. More here.

Question: Do you agree/disagree with Chris Carlson's analysis of the gubernatorial debate in Coeur d'Alene?

---

---