Chamber Endorses Minnick

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick as a champion of for Idaho's businesses and workers in an endorsement announcement this morning.

"In just one term, Walt has already shown a strong record of standing up for the businesses and workers of Idaho during some of the state's most challenging economic times," said chamber senior vice president Bill Miller.

The endorsement by the chamber, which is generally viewed as a more Republican friendly organization, will only help boost Minnick's claim of being one of the most conservative Democrats in the House.

And that won't make state Rep. Raul Labrador's (R) job any easier. Labrador beat the national party's hand picked candidate to secure the Republican nomination in May. He has campaigned as a pro-business fiscal conservative. Labrador has hit Minnick for not doing enough to get his party to cut spending on Capitol Hill. In their own attacks against the freshman Democrat this cycle, national party officials have also worked to link Minnick to his party leaders, like President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), who aren't very popular in the conservative 1st district.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/06/chamber-back-minnick.html

His district isn't just a McCain district, it is ruby red. He should be cut much more slack than someone like Joe Lieberman or Dan Lipinski, who represent solid blue states and districts.