Campaign ‘96

One fish, two fish, red fish, squaw fish

It was a bonus week for campaign strategists who managed to keep fighting over U.S. Sen. Larry Craig’s involvement with the not-so-green group Northwesterners For More Fish. But it’s the biologists who really want to cry. It turns out the fish pictured in the logo for the industry-friendly group is a squawfish, not a salmon. Squawfish, for the uninformed, eat enough young salmon that some areas have a bounty on them.

Beating their own political drum

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe formed a political action committee last week, the first Indian tribe in the region to do so. The PAC was named Schee-chu-umsh, the tribe’s original name. It means “the people who are found here.” The PAC’s first act was to endorse Democrat Dan Williams for Congress over Rep. Helen Chenoweth, and donate $800 to his campaign. Chenoweth has angered tribes repeatedly with her comments and allegedly with a cold shoulder.

Doling out ballot slots …

Idaho Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa officially placed Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole and challengers Pat Buchanan and former United Nations Ambassador Alan Keyes on Idaho’s May 28 GOP primary ballot.

That troika made the cut based on media information, candidate placements in other states and personal communications from candidates, Cenarrusa said. They will split Idaho’s 23 national convention delegates.

An unchallenged President Clinton is the lone Democrat on the ballot. It means nothing since Idaho Democrats’ 23 national nominating delegates were awarded to Clinton based on results of party caucuses in all 44 counties on March 5.

Any other candidates seeking ballot status have until April 29 to submit verified petitions containing the names of 4,821 registered Idaho voters.

One packet ahead of the opposition

Democrat Walt Minnick, who is running for Larry Craig’s U.S. Senate seat, hadn’t even finished his press conference Friday when a reporter strolled down the block to Larry Craig’s campaign headquarters for a response. Surprisingly, Craig’s campaign manager, Mike Reynoldson, already had a copy of the packet Minnick was handing out. Asked if Minnick’s people had given it to the Craig forces, Reynoldson mysteriously replied that, “they gave it to somebody.” Asked if he’d provide the Minnick campaign with Craig material in such a timely way, Reynoldson said, “Probably not knowingly.”

Not so great expectations

With a lack of contested primaries at the top of the ballot this spring and the election scheduled for the day after the Memorial Day holiday, few voters are expected to show, Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa said.

That may not be the case in Kootenai County if anti-tax activist Ron Rankin decides to run for county commissioner. With computer consultant Reed Simpson already declared, that would make a three-way race for the seat now held by two-term incumbent Bob Macdonald.

Coeur d’Alene may be able to count on heavy polling if a proposed hydroplane racing ban gets enough signatures to make the May 28 ballot. When voters were last asked about the boat races, in 1985, they turned out in historic numbers.

Web site of the week

Looking for the phone number or address of that special interest group that shares your special interest? The Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington, D.C., think tank, may be able to help you connect. Its Directory of Public Policy Organizations lists groups of all political stripe, from Accuracy in Academia to Young America’s Foundation … An alphabetized list can be found at http./ /www.townhall.com/heritage/resource-bank/ dppomain.html

Campaign Calendar

Deadline for filing for office in Idaho is April 5.

The deadline for registering to vote in the Idaho primary is May 3, although voters still can register at the polls on election day with proof of residency.

The Idaho Primary Election is May 28.

The Idaho Republican State Convention is in Nampa June 20-22.

The Democratic State Convention is in Boise June 20-23.

, DataTimes MEMO: Campaign ‘96 is published regularly during campaign season and is compiled from staff reports. To submit information on a political event or a question you think the candidates should answer, write us c/o The Idaho Spokesman-Review, 608 Northwest Boulevard, Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene 83814. Or call Cityline at (208) 765-8811 on a Touch-Tone phone, then press 9893 to leave a message, your name and phone number.