Idaho’s Beleaguered Demos Endorse Clinton

Idaho’s beleaguered Democratic faithful overwhelmingly endorsed the re-election bid of President Clinton on Tuesday night in county meetings at courthouses, libraries, schools and cafes throughout the state.

“We ought to be glad we have one choice we can be proud of,” 1st Congressional District candidate Dan Williams told more than 150 people attending the caucus in Ada County.

There were only scattered votes for uncommitted delegates to the state convention in June in the early returns to Democratic state headquarters, and those quickly were absorbed into the Clinton fold.

Meanwhile, Idaho Republicans will not begin committing their 23 national nominating delegates until the May 28 primary. Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa will decide whose names go on the ballot by March 29.

Democratic Party officials do not expect to have their final tally from caucuses in all 44 counties until today, but it appeared the 384 delegates to the state convention would pledge 18 of Idaho’s 23 national nominating delegates to the president. The other five delegate slots will go to state party leaders who also will back Clinton at the Chicago convention in August.

And state Democratic Chairman Bill Mauk predicted Clinton will fare much better among Idaho voters in November than he did four years ago when he got only 28.4 percent of the vote to barely edge billionaire independent candidate H. Ross Perot for second place behind President Bush.

“‘92 and ‘96 are completely different years,” Mauk said. “Bill Clinton’s popularity is increasing nationwide and I think in Idaho as well.”

The 1994 campaign handed Idaho Democrats their worst defeat in generations, and since then, many Democratic candidates have kept their distance from the president.

Still, Clinton was praised by Republican Gov. Phil Batt and others when he came to Boise three weeks ago to meet with them about the disastrous flooding in North Idaho.

“He got rave reviews,” Mauk said.

“And Clinton now has a record that will cause a response from the voters,” he said. “The real wild card at this point is who are the Republicans going to nominate.”