A new poll finds most Republican voters opposed to the idea of a brokered convention to select the party's 2012 presidential nominee. A USA Today/Gallup Poll released Monday finds that 66 percent of Republican and GOP-leaning independents surveyed are opposed to a brokered convention and would prefer one of the four candidates secure the nomination beforehand. 29 percent would not oppose a brokered convention. The poll also found that 57 percent of GOP voters don't believe the extended fight for the nomination is hurting the party/The Hill Ballot Box blog. More here.

Question: Would you like to see a brokered GOP National Convention? Why? Why not?

In a story in The Hill evaluating the growing strength of the Republican Party in this fall’s elections, reporters Shane D’Aprile and Sean J. Miller write that the race between Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, and Republican Raul Labrador has moved from “toss-up” to “lean Democratic.” The report continues: “Minnick has taken to Twitter to highlight the National Republican Congressional Committee’s reluctance to buy TV ad time in his once-targeted district. After party-favorite Vaughn Ward lost the primary to Raul Labrador, Republicans seem to have abandoned their ambition of unseating the conservative Democrat.” The rest of the story here.

DFO: A person in the know in Kootenai County Republican politics tells me that s/he’s thinking about voting for Minnick — as are a number of his/her Republican friends — thinking they’d rather have the incumbent for 2 more years than risk having a Bill Sali-like representative for the foreseeable future. Dunno if this person has ever voted Republican in a 1st Congressional District race. But it doesn’t bode well for Labrador.

New U.S. Sen. Jim Risch got a prominent mention in the Roll Call newspaper’s “Heard on the Hill” column this week, headed “A for Effort,” which noted, “Looks like the new guy’s an over-achiever. HOH spies have noticed Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, spending a lot of time on the chamber’s floor, apparently toiling away at his desk.” The column said Risch has been at his desk in the chambers even when there’s nothing much happening, but for “whichever senator happens to be yapping away for the C-SPAN cameras.” The explanation? “One part apple-shining and one part necessity,” the column said/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

• Was that why all the sirens?
• Cameron: Apologies accepted
• Lawmakers troll for more savings
• Agencies told to halt spending
• Lawmakers say guv ‘over-optimistic’

Minnick won in large part thanks to outgoing Rep. Bill Sali’s (R) inability to play nice even with members of his own party. The incoming Democrat will attempt to hold down a district that voted 69 percent for President Bush in 2004, and he has shown the fundraising prowess to do so. Minnick would be well-served if Sali ran again, but, even in that case, the GOP primary would be no cinch for the one-term former representative/The Hill.

Randy Stapilus comment

Kevin Richert comment

Jill Kuraitis story re: Minnicks in D.C.

Question: What must Congressman Walt Minnick do to be re-elected in two years?