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All five candidates for governor of Idaho met for a debate on Thursday, in front of a packed crowd at the Idaho Capitol and broadcast on Idaho Public Television.
Attending the showdown were Republican governor Butch Otter, Democrat Keith Allred, Libertarian Ted Dunlap and independents Jana Kemp and Pro-Life Richardson. Among the “other” candidates, Kemp is the one to watch. She’s a former one-term Republican state legislator and has been, by far, the most active and serious challenger to the two leading candidates.
It was Kemp who drew some unlikely applause during the debate. When pressed on his projections for the future of the state’s budget, Democrat Allred said, “The last three months of revenue. We are $14 million ahead of the projections that were made in August.”
Kemp was quick to jump in, injecting: “When we were in the Legislature we talked often about how you can’t bet on money that hasn’t come in.” At that, Governor Otter yelled, “Yeah!” and started clapping. “No applause,” said the moderator, to which Otter responded, “You told the audience, not us.”
Otter may feel free to agree with Kemp, as most polls show him cruising to an easy victory on Tuesday.
Kemp, for her part, has been campaigning hard for months. She’s traveled the state, speaking to various groups. She has her own parade float and regularly appears at fairs and community events, attempting to light a fire under a long-shot campaign that has struggled in mid-single digits according to most polling.
An Idaho Newspapers Poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon, came out earlier this week that showed Otter leading Allred, 52% to 30%, with 5% for Kemp, 4% for Dunlap and 1% for “Pro-Life.”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? She will get less than 2% of the vote here in Idaho and thats being generous. And way to leave out the completely inappropriate and disgusting comment she made at the end about Keith Allred’s adoption. I am completely disgusted at Jana and know she lost a lot of votes over that comment!
Hurrah for Jana Kemp for daring to say that the emperor has no clothes! Allred won’t reveal where he really WAS born (remind you of any other Dem’s?), but saying he’s a fifth-generation because he was adopted into an Idaho family, would be like Jana claiming that her adopted daughter (who really IS a fifth-generation Idahoan) is a second-generation Philadelphian because Jana was born in Phildelphia.
Allred is just a giant, limp-wristed suck-up. His political philosophy can be summed up as “do what’s popular”. His best point is that he does a fabulous impression of The Scarlet Pimpernel. He should have lace cuffs on his shirts. His speech: “I’ll tax you here, I’ll tax you there, I’m Keith Allred and I’ll even tax your underwear! While I’m living in Heaven, I’ll be taxing you to Hell, because I’m Keith Allred, The Scarlet Pimpernel!”
I’m voting Kemp!
Linnda I’m glad the rest of Idaho is not like you. But to clarify your defense of Kemp:
My great grandma homesteaded at the foot of the Teton Mountains. Its beautiful country over there in Tetonia, have you been? My grandfather was born there and raised his family in the area too. My mother then went to school in Utah where I was born as they wrapped up their schooling and we stayed in Utah until I was six before moving back to Idaho. I consider myself raised here and a fourth generation Idahoan. Is this wrong of me? Because, frankly I don’t think it is! You’re mind is as warped at Jana’s eyes are to close. Gosh, I couldn’t stand watching her for four years! Glad its not even a worry. I worry more for sorry people like you that stand by her.