Push Came To Shove At Boise Debate

There’s a seed of truth to the wild rumors sweeping the state about a fight between supporters of U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth and challenger Dan Williams during a recent Boise debate.

The scene was loud and raucous outside the Idaho Public TV studio. Supporters of each candidate held signs and chanted loudly, each trying to out-shout the other.

Some got a little heated.

“Our people got there early and set up a table with punch and cookies. The Williams people set up right next to them, with bullhorns, and they did a lot of pushing and shoving,” said Khris Bershers, Chenoweth campaign spokeswoman.

Williams said his supporters tried to keep the two sides separated, but Chenoweth staffers “took five of their people and placed them right in the middle of my group of supporters.”

Williams said a Chenoweth worker poked him with a campaign sign as he walked into the debate.

Bershers said Williams people rocked her car after Chenoweth got out.

Chenoweth staffers claim one of their workers, a woman, was knocked down by a bullhorn-carrying Williams fan.

Williams said one of his workers, a man, was punched in the stomach by an overzealous young Chenoweth campaign staffer.

But the allegations from both sides are nothing compared to the rumors that have flown around the state for the past few weeks. Tales of political goons, fisticuffs, overturned tables and injuries all were exaggerations.

According to the Boise Police, nothing happened.

Inside, goodwill blooms

Marion Ellis, the Natural Law Party candidate challenging Chenoweth, says on some issues she agrees with Chenoweth, and on some she agrees with Williams. As the three met for the debate at Idaho Public TV, Ellis said her party believes in bringing the best ideas from all sides together.

Then, as soon as the TV cameras stopped rolling, Ellis presented bright bouquets of flowers to Chenoweth and Williams.

Asked why, she said she thought both were making worthwhile contributions to the state by serving in or running for Congress.

“I think that all of our candidates deserve kudos.”

They’re everywhere

Boise is wall-to-wall politics these days, especially since Congress adjourned and the whole delegation headed back to Idaho to campaign.

Three of Idaho’s four members are up for re-election. But at a recent press conference on a Boise street corner, all four attended. They were receiving an award from a national anti-tax group. But it also was an opportunity for campaigning.

As each took his or her turn at the microphone, the theme was that voters should keep the all-Republican foursome together.

“You have a good team that’s in place,” said Sen. Dirk Kempthorne, the only one not up for re-election this year.

Count ‘em up

California has 52 representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives. Idaho has two. But 2nd District Rep. Mike Crapo claims Idaho’s delegation has more clout.

How can that be?

Here’s Crapo’s logic: “We do not cancel our votes. Idaho puts two votes on the board. Often they split each other so much that our two votes in Idaho have more influence.”

And in fact, California’s delegation is split nearly down the middle, with 27 Democrats and 25 Republicans.

Idaho has just Crapo and Rep. Helen Chenoweth, both Republicans.

But the same logic also would suggest that California’s two-Democrat majority cancels out both of Idaho’s votes.

, DataTimes MEMO: North-South Notes runs every other Saturday. To reach Betsy Z. Russell, call 336-2854, fax to 336-0021 or e-mail to bzrussell@rmci.net.