From Eric Dondero:

Strange happenings in the home state of the Bowl-bound Boise State Broncos.

Seems a prominent Democrat has decided to switch parties to Republican, to run against incumbent Democrat Congressman Walt Minnick. The Congressman is considered to be the only Democrat in the entire House of Reps, who leans libertarian. A recent survey found him to have the most "conservative" voting record of the entire Northwest delegation, including Republicans. What's more, Minnick himself is a former Republican who switched to 'D' to run for the seat.

From Rocky Barker at the IdahoStatesman.com, Dec. 12:

the other big race for 2010 is expected to be the U.S. House seat now held by Democrat Walt Minnick. Minnick, a former Republican whose voting record in the House so far has appeared closer to his previous party affiliation, has irritated many Democrats for not supporting central party positions like a cap-and-trade climate law and a public option for health care reform.

Democrat Larry Grant, a Fruitland attorney who lost a narrow race in 2006 to Republican Bill Sali but stepped aside for Minnick in 2008, said he gets at least one call a week from Democrats urging him to challenge Minnick for the seat. He usually tells them no.

Recently, he told me, he answered yes.

“I said I was going to run for Congress as a Republican,” Grant said.

A Republican? That’s right, he said.

Since Vaughn Ward has the Palin wing of the GOP behind him and Raul Labrador has the Sali crowd behind him Republican moderates have nowhere to go in the primary, Grant said. If he jumps into the race he can get moderates along with Democratic crossovers unhappy with Minnick.

“All I need is 35 percent,” Grant said.

There is still rampant speculation that Sali might also jump into the race, but unclear as to what party; Libertarian, Constitution or Tea Party Independent.

And, there's still speculation that Minnick may switch back to Republican. Many progressives in Boise are urging him to do so, to make way for a hardline liberal "real Democrat" candidate.

Side Note - LR received a nice note from Rocky Barker at the Idaho Statesman for this linking of his piece. Turns out he's got a bit of a fondness for libertarians.