Untested Democrat steps into congressional race

[IDemo]

Dan Popkey
The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 03-15-2006

Supporters were holding their breath Tuesday as Larry Grant made his debut in the race to fill Idaho's open 1st Congressional District seat.

Grant is an untested candidate, but with Republicans in Congress under fire and a six-way catfight for the GOP nomination, Democrats have a shot at the seat being left by Rep. Butch Otter.

They don't want to blow it.

Grant gave a solid 'B' performance in his formal announcement at the Capitol. He struck traditional Idaho Democratic themes: good jobs, education, access to health care, conservation, fiscal responsibility. He also seized on the gifts handed the Democrats by a reeling national Republican Party.

"I would like to be able to stand here today and talk about jobs and education and health care," Grant said. "But the fact of the matter is there are other things on the agenda that are taking precedence. We have a crisis in this country, and to me, it's a crisis of leadership."

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