Don't "woo" people. Don't "out-Sali" them, either.

Two things I want to blog about right now: "Woo-ing and Sali-ing".

First, woo-ing...

I found an interesting ( and brief) article about a new candidate for US Congress, as I was going through articles on the internet this evening.

The news blurb spoke of how State Rep. Raul Labrador emailed the announcement of his newly-minted candidacy for US Congress (in Idaho's first district) to scores of "conservative" leaders across the state, attempting to "woo" them/us. The news piece mentioned "50" as the number...I believe.

Wooing them....what a strange term. We woo girlfriends or boyfriends. Some of us continue to woo our spouses, for good measure...(at least the smart ones do! Ha.)

But "woo the conservatives"? C'mon...really?

Now, I know and like Rep. Labrador and I bet, if I were given the list of names to whom he sent his email,  I'd even like most of those folks, too. ( As an FYI, I received a very nice voice-mail from Raul, myself, and will be returning the call in the next couple of days.)

My question is this: why didn't he simply email his candidacy to leaders of all stripes, across the state? Why did he attempt to initially "woo" only the "conservatives"?

Especially with Raul's outstanding record in helping Mexican immigrants maintain their residency and work permits via their green cards, etc. (He helped a dear friend of mine years ago in this area). Raul Labrador is more than a 2 dimensional conservative. Why not say it?

So far, Vaughn Ward remains the leading mystery-man candidate for the GOP nomination. I understand that he's claiming the conservative crown himself. Haven't received a voice mail from Vaughn yet, myself, but that's what I hear from people I respect and with whom I have had years of relationship.

So, why the big push to contract the Idaho itch of "conservative-itis". Is it real in both cases? Maybe....

Is it in hopes of peeling off a large percentage of GOP Primary voters, early on? Sure...

But why else are these two candidates "going rogue" against a fairly centrist GOP party membership and centrist central committee? (Aside from it's fine conservative Chairman, a man whom I respect.)

I believe it is for one and only one reason. This is where we move into the "Sali-ing".

(But before I say it, please know I am not privy to confidential information...just many decades of watching, running races and blogging.)

Here's the preamble:

They want to act as if they are "Out-Sali-ing -Bill-Sali"....at least for the Primary.

In short, they want the Chenoweth-Sali quadrant of voters who are, themselves, seeking a leader, to be "wooed" by them, lulled into a political/romantic affair of the heart. Hmmm...

There's only one problem...and it's a big one.

Here's the "bomb-drop":

It's my call that Bill Sali will throw his hat in the ring in due season and easily crush both of these fine gentlemen.

Bill and I are long-time friends...AND we have not...I repeat HAVE NOT talked about a 2010 candidacy run for the Sali Machine.

I just sense it in the air....

And when he does announce, visit this site (and another fine site that I will point out at the time.)

I know that Bill has a high calling of honor in his life and he sees his service in Congress as time that was providentially directed. Both "in and out"...

And it's my belief that he'll be sensitive to that "call" again for another "in" opportunity.

And May 2010 will be his. Whether Nov 2010 is his, will be yet to be seen. Walt Minnick has served Idahoans like no other Democratic incumbent since Gov. Cecil Andrus.

For those who do not know the name Doug Dorn, look it up. Idahoans will not vote for candidates who attempt to "buy" elections, with little or no resume in public policy. Idahoans abhor that.

 Sali's got decades of elected service, Labrador has served well in the Idaho House, as well, for a much shorter period. Ward? He served us in the military, and we are thankful, but he decided to leap-frog local service as an elected official, a volunteer, a lobbyist or even a community leader to run for the "big one". Politics is all local...especially in Idaho.

Bill Sali's "reach and frequency" are amazing. He can run a poor-man's race this time and still be nominated.

Bombs away....

Den

Comments

[Ryndy Williams]

Dennis : This article is a great analysis. I hope Raul doesn't pander to the far right. He's a smart man. I admire him and his principals. He does good work for immigrants, the community & his church. Still, I am nervous. I personally am unsatisfied with Walt, but I'm an Idaho Democrat. I'll wait and see who stands up to be counted in the Spring of 2010. Keep on observing the world around you. You and your family deserve some peace this year and always. I admire your son, and grieve with you for Nathan.

Ryndy Williams
Meridian, ID

[Dennis Mansfield]

Thank you, Ryndy.

Yesterday I had a strong conservative friend ask me, in essence, whether I was the same "Dennis Mansfield" of days gone by. Apparently seeing the humanity in others, working with the destitute and supposed "ugly" drug addicts is a nice thing for us to think about doing.

Doing it however has shown me that life is so much more than politics. Losing races means nothing, winning races can mean even less.

Winning hearts for eternity is the only thing that matters. Ask Nate. He'd answer pretty honestly.

God's not conservative or liberal. He's God.
Den