Two Dems Square Off in Race for Craig’s Seat
By Jared S. Hopkins, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho
May 18–For almost a year, the Democratic nomination in Idaho’s U.S. Senate race looked to be locked up by Larry LaRocco.
But the last couple of months have found him sparring with David J. Archuleta, a tribal court advocate from Fort Hall who says he’s running to offer voters a choice. He said he hears Democrats fear that LaRocco will “take my guns away.”
“Larry LaRocco had his chance. He served two terms in Congress,” said Archuleta. “The criticism that I’m taking votes away — you’re damn right I am. And I have every right as an American to do that.”
The two face off May 27 in the primary election for the nomination in the race for the seat held by Larry Craig. LaRocco has campaigned since April 2007, but political experts have said state Lt. Gov. Jim Risch remains the favorite to win both the Republican nomination and general election in the heavily-Republican state.
“I’ve been involved in this race for 13 months. My strategy hasn’t changed really,” LaRocco, 61, said last week. “Archuleta didn’t change my strategy because I was going 100 mph.”
LaRocco served two-terms in Congress until he lost to Republican Helen Chenoweth in 1994. He said the biggest issue is the economy and many Idahoans are feeling economic insecurity, including difficulty in obtaining health care. He wants a universal system through a public-private partnership that would be market driven.
Archuleta said that universal health care is something he supports — he called a system in France and Britain successful — but he needs to research the issue more.
LaRocco, a business consultant, lived briefly in Twin Falls in the 1970s and his wife once taught at Twin Falls High School. He’s held almost two dozen blue collar jobs for his “Working for Idaho” campaign that has seen him, among other jobs, make cheese at the Twin Falls Glanbia Foods plant.
Archuleta criticized LaRocco’s job campaign as an act that shows little connection with everyday workers.
“Let’s see him live on the pay they get. Let’s see him survive on the health benefits that they get,” said Archuleta, 52, who worked for a number of years in radio, television and newspapers. “It’s nice to go work someone’s job for a day, but that’s just showmanship.”
To find additional energy, LaRocco wants tax incentives for nuclear and geothermal and wants the government to assist in research.
Archuleta wants more oil refineries, and while he opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, he said there’s oil along the Alaskan coasts. He said today’s technology will settle environmental concerns.
On Iraq, LaRocco has called for troop withdrawal, and said the United States should shift its global direction.
“We should trim down the nation building, particularly in Iraq and start putting our focus back on America,” said LaRocco, an Army veteran.
Archuleta, a Vietnam veteran, wants troop withdrawal in a “reasonable manner” but not immediately in order to avoid the collapse of any Iraqi government. He’s not comfortable with a deadline, and said those decisions rest with military.
“My introduction to war was a dead guy floating down the river,” he said. “When you’re 18, you think you’re invincible. And that taught me, ‘no you’re not.’”
On immigration, the two offer similar proposals in enhancing border security, enforcing the current law and strengthen federal programs for guest workers.
But Archuleta blames LaRocco for changes made by Congress that he said led to millions of foreclosures in the country, including those on the Fort Hall reservation.
“He certainly could’ve prevented it,” he said. “Bankers have a lot of representatives in Congress. Regular working people don’t.”
Jared S. Hopkins may be reached at 208-735-3204 or jhopkins@magicvalley.com
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