America is on the verge of great political change. Some political prognosticators (including the estimable Stu Rothenberg) are now predicting an upheaval of historic proportions, with Democrats poised to win anywhere from two dozen to more than fifty seats a week from next Tuesday. People are fed up, they want change, and they're going to vote for it ... even in Idaho.
If we see history made November 7, there's still a chance that maverick Idaho 2nd Congressional District candidate Jim Hansen will be part of it. Jim finally had his moment in the spotlight today, with a big Idaho Statesman Page 1 piece of his race against incumbent Mike Simpson. Unlike the lame-ass Boise Weekly story published earlier this week, the Statesman piece did a good job telling why and how Hansen is refusing to play the political game by its usual rules.
However, both the Statesman and BW missed a crucial part of Jim's story. While they dutifully reported the raw figures of contributions from individuals (about $111,000 as of September 30 for Hansen, compared to $126,755 for Simpson), both Rocky Barker and Shea Andersen failed to note that Hansen - with his self-imposed $100 contribution limit - has had many more individuals contributing to his campaign than Simpson can claim.
Jim Hansen doesn't have TV ads, but he has met face-to-face with thousands of Idaho voters, and he has the enthusiastic support of people across southern Idaho. On Saturday, he'll wrap up his 95-town tour of all 26 counties of the 2nd District with a whistle-stop tour through downtown Boise aboard the Boise Tour Train.
Stop into the old Mode Building at 8th and Idaho between 10 a.m. and noon for some hot spiced cider and a ride on the tour train, where Jim and supporters will be serenaded by Boise jazz great Kevin Kirk and his band. Jim will hold forth at a 10:45 a.m. press conference, telling how he will include his constituents in the democratic process by revisiting all 95 towns and more in his first year if voters send him to Congress.
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