Gov. Butch Otter is holding campaign announcements all across the state this week, starting Wednesday in north Idaho. He’s also launched a new campaign website that includes a petition calling the new federal health care law unhealthy for Idaho.
Otter’s holding morning events in Post Falls and Lewiston before an evening barbecue in Caldwell. On Thursday, the governor will speak on the steps of the state Capitol before traveling to Twin Falls, Rexburg, and Idaho Falls. On Friday, he will visit Pocatello and Blackfoot.
The governor’s campaign petition against federal health care encourages the lawsuit by several states that he and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden support. “We contend the federal government has overstepped its authority with this law, and that it’s our duty to challenge it,” the petition reads. “Join me in fighting this horrible law — another costly government-run boondoggle that will leave our children and grandchildren deeper in debt.”
The first poll of the November gubernatorial races shows Otter holding a 32 percentage point lead over Democrat Keith Allred. Otter also faces several challengers in the Republican primary, including Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman, former elk rancher Rex Rammell of Idaho Falls, Walt Bayes of Wilder, Tamara Wells of Post Falls, and Pete Peterson of Boise, who says on his website that he has no interest in being governor, but wants someone besides Otter to win the election.
