We have a candidate. Former Congressman Larry LaRocco is not waiting around to make a run for the Senate in 2008.
Former Idaho Congressman Larry LaRocco will run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Larry Craig in the 2008 election. LaRocco plans to announce his bid next Wednesday, April 11.
It’s unclear whether Craig will run for re-election or retire at age 61, so LaRocco could be running for an open seat against an unknown challenger, if not Craig.
The last Democrat who represented Idaho in the U.S. Senate was Frank Church, for whom LaRocco worked. Church was defeated by Republican Steve Symms in 1980.
Currently in Washington, D.C. lining up support for his candidacy, LaRocco told New West that "Washington, D.C. is not working and the voters of Idaho know it. We’ve had 12 years of a ‘pay to play’ mentality that needs to get corrected. The lack of oversight by our Congress has led us to numerous mess in our domestic and foreign policy. Idaho needs a voice that can fix this mess and represent all of Idaho."
It's hard to say at this point how strong a candidate LaRocco is. He served back in the early 90's when Democrats were regularly elected to office in the state. However, his presents gives us a starting point and something for Craig to consider as he ponders retirement. I would love to hear all of you Western kossack to pipe and tell me what you know about him and his chances of getting elected.