Rammell jumping to governor's race

A month ago, Rex Rammell awkwardly announced at a local tea party that he would attempt to unseat Congressman Mike Simpson. His announcement, of course, was met with mixed feelings. Perhaps it gave Rex a bit of a bitter taste in his mouth to have been booed by those he believes should be supporting him.

Now he's washing down that bitter taste with a change of mind. Recognizing a chink in Governor Butch Otter's armour after a contentious and politically costly legislative standoff over transportation funding, Rex has decided to abandon his congressional aspirations and pursue the governor's office.

Was this a good idea? In the moment, it may seem so. But I think it's a mistake for several reasons:

1. It appears opportunistic.

While Governor Otter may be vulnerable over losing some political capital and clout from the transportation staredown, few people like it when politicians take obvious advantage of a political situation. Whenever there's inter-party imbalance and division, the vacuum always gets filled, but it's usually by those who are either established, savvy, or both. Rex appears neither with this decision.

2. It appears reactionary.

Any viable congressional candidate deliberates extensively over the decision to run. Likewise, making the decision to end a congressional campaign is no small matter. But Rex made it look easy, combining both inside of a month, simply because there was what appeared to be a greener pasture close by.

3. It is short-sighted.

I conducted a FlashPoll on the program asking listeners who had voted for Governor Otter before, if he had lost their support during the legislative session. Overwhelmingly, the answer was "yes". Rex needs to know that outrage has a shelf life. The transportation funding insistence is Governor Otter's only real transgression with conservatives. In a year, it's a non-issue for most voters who will have tired of hearing Rex Rammell talk over and over about Governor Otter's transportation funding standoff, much like they tired of hearing about Jim Risch shooting Rammell's elk.

Mike Simpson on the other hand, has a number of votes that have angered many. Immigration, earmarks, environmental issues. Simpson has several weaknesses with the base, all of them ammo for a viable candidate, especially in a primary race.


I would have played it differently had I been Rex. Perhaps he should have leveraged the Governor's situation to bolster his congressional prospects, arguing that political power erodes commitment to conservative principles. To jump so quickly from one opportunity to another only draws attention to the weaknesses that have haunted Rex's political ambitions from the beginning.