Afraid of Larry LaRocco?

I received one of Jim Risch’s fundraising letters, along with an attached letter from Governor Otter. Risch’s letter was one of those scary fundraising letters that warns the Democratic machine is coming after him and they’re targeting the seat and to send money ASAP to save the seat from the Democrats.

Reading the letter made me mad—at Jim Risch. My first official introduction to the man as a Senate Candidate is as a guy running scared from the Democrats. Republicans should hardly be arrogant about this seat, but running scared of what Democrats might do in the Reddest state of the Union?

When I hear about a Senate Candidate, I want to know what he’s about: who he is and what he’s for. It’s in the middle of page 2 into the letter before we get to that point. Not the way to introduce yourself, though as the cliche says, he really needs no introduction. He’s won two Statewide elections by good margins, the last one against LaRocco. Mentioning the Craig thing in the letter was really unwise.

Risch should be running a confident, yet not cocky campaign. Coming off as scared may be creating fooder for Idaho liberal bloggers but it’s not really inspiring. I’ve yet to get a letter this frantic from Bill Sali who has been targeted by Democrats. 

It is my hope that  Risch will focus on his values, his beliefs, and his record. He has no reason to be sounding this frantic so early on and really needs to refocus and shelve the scary letters for August and September.