Do Dems Have A Chance In Idaho?

Keith Allred, a Dem activist and former Harvard professor, will face ID Gov. Butch Otter (R) after easily taking the ID Dem nomination yesterday.

Allred sat down last week with Hotline OnCall, where he expressed confidence that '10 was an anti-incumbent year, not an anti-Dem one. Polls show that he's the best chance Dems have had in years to win the GOV seat, even in a bad environment for Dems across the country.

"Butch Otter's the weakest incumbent in ID since the 1960's and I'm the strongest Democratic candidate that we've seen in a couple of decades," Allred said. "The key is that you match those things up in the same year, and I think that what it takes for a Democrat to win in Idaho."

Allred, a fifth-generation IDan, is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Rep. Walt Minnick (D) and other western Dem governors like MT's Brian Schweitzer (D) and WY's Dave Freudenthal (D). All 3 won in traditionally GOP areas. Allred was recruited to run in '09 by ID Dems, but before last year he was a proud independent, and hopes his background will appeal to Idaho independents and GOPers.

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/05/do_dems_have_a.php

Given the blood red state he has to deal with, I can even forgive him for voting against HCR.

Too bad Howard Dean is not running the DNC.