The Nifty Fifty House Party - Part XXV: Idaho

Last time, the Bullet Train to November went through Missouri, a bellwether state that will be key to who becomes the 44th occupant of 1600. This time, the train is roaring out west -- and north -- to a state that is hardly a bellwether, one with a significant partisan history...

IDAHO

Its abundance of natural resources gives this state its nickname of the Gem State, but Idaho is perhaps more well known for its potato crops as it produces nearly a third of America's spuds. The state falls into two time zones with the smokestack-shaped northern areas east of Spokane, Washington (Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston and all points north of the Salmon River) falling into the Pacific Time Zone while the Mountain Time Zone covers the rest of the state, including Boise, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls. The origin of the name of Idaho has a puzzling history. In the early 1860s, lobbyist George M. Willing suggested to Congress that a new territory situated in the Rocky Mountains should be called "Idaho", or "the sun comes from the mountains" in Shoshone language. While Willing later admitted to making up the name himself, the name stuck and eventually Idaho became the 43rd state on July 3, 1890.

Today, Idaho has become a hotbed for high-tech industry, with semiconductor and printer manufacturing now a major part of the state's electronics manufacturing base. Mining, food processing (including the world's largest barrel cheese factory) and tourism also play a significant role in the Idaho economy. Among the Idahoans with roots in the state: electronics inventor Philo Farnsworth, news anchor and columnist Lou Dobbs, and Baseball Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.

Idaho is one of the most Republican states in the country, having given George W. Bush well over 68 percent of the vote in 2004, and its entire congressional delegation -- House and Senate -- has been Republican since 1994. However, one House seat has fallen into a peril of sorts -- the result of a freshman member's penchant for controversy.

District 1 (S-Factor 18.0 GOP): This district covers Boise and most of its surrounding suburbs along with northern Idaho (Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston), is strongly Republican and gave Dubya 69% of the vote. What is surprising is that conservative freshman Bill Sali received a surprisingly small 50% of the vote. However, what is not surprising is that Sali, who succeeded Butch Otter when the latter became Governor of Idaho, has shown flak amongst Idahoans, even before he was elected to Congress. In particular, one poll showed favorable/unfavorable ratings of 32/46 within the district's Republican base, and Sali has generated some controversial comments such as, among others, a link between abortion and breast cancer. The Democrats are pinning their hopes on businessman and attorney Walt Minnick, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996 and has outpaced Sali in funds raised (nearly $1 million to Sali's $494K) and cash-on-hand ($444K to $158K). While Sali is still favored to hold this seat, and was even named President of the GOP's House freshman class, he will need to stop producing gaffes or risk losing this otherwise Republican seat. Prediction: Favor GOP.

District 2 (S-Factor 17.5 GOP): As for Idaho's other congressman, Mike Simpson is in very safe territory in a district that covers Eastern Idaho (Idaho Falls, Twin Falls) and parts of the Boise metropolitan area. The Democrats will try with realtor Debbie Holmes, but will come up short. Prediction: Solid GOP.

Next stop: The Bonus Page.