Last night’s 1st CD debate…

The Idaho Statesman’s Kevin Richert offers a breakdown here of last night’s 1st CD debate - who won, who lost, and how it went. It’s an interesting take. And here’s some background from the Statesman’s Dan Popkey on the Reagan tax issue that came up during the debate. As one of the reporter panelists, I found it to be a really good and lively debate, with each of the candidates having some fine moments and some low points. Among them: Raul Labrador displayed his formidable rhetorical skills and had the audience, which wasn’t supposed to be demonstrative, laughing out loud at some of his more creative cracks at Walt Minnick. Minnick articulated, for the first time I’ve heard, why he’s a Democrat. And independent Dave Olson pounded this point: “I’m the only independent in the race, period … I’m the only one that’s not obligated to either party.”

If you missed the debate, you can watch it online here .