Campaign ‘96

In search of mythical candidate?

Getting Democratic contenders in Kootenai County is like wearing a blindfold and bobbing for apples: They’re hard to find, tough to catch and - once snagged - disappear quickly. Ask Cecil Kelly, a one-time candidate for one of Coeur d’Alene’s seats in the Idaho House of Representatives, who decided to step out. Oddsmakers may want to drop greyhound racing in favor of making book on whether Kelly’s replacement makes it through November.

Hold the enthusiasm

Republicans are buzzing about the news that longtime GOP politico Bob Macdonald wants to join the Natural Law Party and run against freshman Republican legislator Rep. Jeff Alltus. This after losing his primary re-election bid for Kootenai County Commissioner to Ron Rankin. “Would I encourage it?,” GOP Chairman Kathy Sims said when queried about Macdonald’s attempted bid. “Well I don’t discourage it.” Hmmm. Did that imply dissatisfaction with Alltus’ first term? Not at all. “Jeff does a nice job,” she said - a ringing endorsement to be sure.

Joining the NRA next Walt?

Emulating the Partridge Family, Bill Clinton and 1960s authors with beads and bell bottoms, Walt Minnick is taking to the road next week on a bus tour. This campaign song and dance isn’t for a musical, it’s to promote his campaign for U.S. Senate against Republican Larry Craig. Those in the Minnick camp deny it’s a cheap rip-off of Craig’s periodic campaign bus tours of Idaho. “It’s an expensive one,” they say. No doubt. Minnick is taking a motor home. An old yellow school bus with a stove pipe out the top would do more for Minnick’s attempted makeover as a Democrat. Or maybe he should try to join Craig on the board of the National Rifle Association. Idahoans will forgive almost anything if they can stay armed.

This just in from the Pot-Shot Party

Boise attorney and Democrat Dan Williams came to North Idaho again last Friday to criticize U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth for voting to allow companies to use pension funds for leveraged buy-outs. If true, it’s a serious problem. Equally troubling, however, is the fact that it’s late August and still all we hear from Williams is a weekly missive about what’s wrong with Chenoweth. So, Dan, when are you going to start telling us important stuff about yourself?

Long-distance flack

Khris Bershers, Chenoweth’s press aide and an almost-North-Idaho-native, doesn’t mind going the distance. Especially when it’s for a cruise with the old crowd. Bershers visited Coeur d’Alene recently for her 10th high school class reunion and received the award for traveling the farthest for the gathering. No doubt the Williams camp will have news to report on this journey in a few weeks. Watch your fax machines.

Web site of the week

Looking for newsy nuggets of political news, with some interesting links, like the platform of the Natural Law Party? Try the Daily Spin. Put together by a North Carolina consulting firm, it keeps its daily updates on file, so you can catch up on the last day, week or month … Find it at http:/ /www.webslingerz.com/spin.

, DataTimes MEMO: Campaign ‘96 is published regularly during the campaign season and is compiled by staff writer Ken Olsen. To submit information on a political event or a question you want the candidates to answer, write us c/o The Idaho Spokesman-Review, 608 Northwest Boulevard, Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 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.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Ken Olsen