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Eye On Boise

It’s debate time: U.S. Senate

Candidates prepare for the U.S. Senate debate on Tuesday night, as does the reporter panel and, at right, moderator Thanh Tan of Idaho Public Television. (Lisa Sommer / Idaho Public Television)
Candidates prepare for the U.S. Senate debate on Tuesday night, as does the reporter panel and, at right, moderator Thanh Tan of Idaho Public Television. (Lisa Sommer / Idaho Public Television)

It's time now for the debate in the U.S. Senate race, between Sen. Mike Crapo and his Democratic challenger, Tom Sullivan of Tetonia. Here's a bit about the two:

    Mike Crapo, 59
    Republican
    BIO: Two terms in U.S. Senate, three in U.S. House; eight years in Idaho Senate; Harvard-educated lawyer; B.A., Brigham Young University; Idaho Falls resident; married, five children and two grandchildren.
    Campaign promises: "I promise to work hard for Idahoans, fight to protect our Constitution, eliminate the national debt and our culture of deficit spending,  reduce federal regulations that choke our economy, cut the size, expense and control of the federal government, and always to listen to Idahoans to find common sense solutions to our problems as I represent Idahoans in the U.S. Senate."
    Notable: In his Owyhee Initiative, Crapo helped bring together ranchers, conservationists and more in a collaborative wilderness proposal that passed and was signed into law. He's also a prostate cancer survivor who's crusaded for early detection.
    P. Tom Sullivan, 42
    Democrat
    BIO: Owns credit card processing business in eastern Idaho; partner in a weekly newspaper; first run for office; former owner of Tubbs Cafe in Coeur d'Alene; high school equivalency degree; married, two children.  
    Campaign promises: “I will work to see “Made in America” again; I will support small business, fair taxes and responsible spending to avoid ever repeating the enormous deficit racked up between 2000 and 2008 and I’ll vote in the interests of the people of Idaho, not for Wall Street interests; I will work to bring new technology, jobs, training and education to make Idaho a green energy leader in 21st century.”
    Notable: Sullivan, who has both federal and state tax debt after a bank failure left his business struggling with the credit crunch, has been critical of Crapo's record on financial issues, accusing him of promoting corporate interests over small businesses.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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