With the latest independent poll showing Idaho's 1st District congressional race narrowing to a dead heat, Congressman Walt Minnick and GOP rival Raul Labrador clashed in a debate today on everything from wilderness to mega-loads on Highway 12; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

As the two faced off before a luncheon crowd of 400 at the Boise City Club, Minnick sought to paint himself as a centrist and his rival as "so far out of the mainstream" that he wants to withdraw from the United Nations, return to gold and silver as the national currency and repeal the popular election of U.S. senators.

Labrador countered, “On the issues where I’ve been called ‘fringe’ by some people, I’m actually with the people of Idaho. I am actually in tune with the issues that are important to the people of Idaho. ... I will be able to represent them well.” He asked the audience, “Are you better off today than you were two years ago?” Labrador said, “It’s his party that has destroyed the future of this country. I believe that we need to do something that is different.”