Minnick Outspent Sali 2-to-1

ne thing Democrat Walt Minnick and Republican Bill Sali agree on: Money was decisive in Minnick’s upset of the Republican incumbent Nov. 4. Minnick spent $2.5 million to capture the 1st Congressional District, becoming the first Idaho Democrat to win a federal seat since 1992. That was more than twice Sali’s spending of $1.2 million, according to new finance reports filed this week. The race was the most expensive U.S. House race in Idaho history, breaking the record set two years earlier when Sali defeated Democrat Larry Grant in a battle that cost $1.8 million/Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Is a combined $3.7M in campaign spending for an Idaho congressional race obscene? Or the cost of doing political business in 21st century Idaho?