Labrador holds early lead over Minnick
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 14 years, 2 months AGO
<p>Democrat Walt Minnick, Idaho's 1st District congressional representative, monitors election results at his election-night party with son Dixon, 17, center, and campaign staffer Dean Ferguson, background.</p>
BOISE (AP) - Republican challenger Raul Labrador is holding a narrow, early lead over Democratic incumbent Walt Minnick in the race for Idaho's 1st Congressional District.
With 49 percent of the precincts counted, Labrador led with 49.6 percent of the vote, compared to 42.6 percent for Minnick early Wednesday.
Results are coming in slowly due to delays in the district's three biggest counties - Ada, Canyon and Kootenai.
Minnick narrowly won his first term two years ago, knocking off first-term Republican Bill Sali. In this election season, Minnick touted his independent, conservative votes in Congress over the last two years, including his stance against federal earmarks and the federal health care overhaul.
But it may not be enough to combat a wave of voter discontent with Democrats in Congress and the policies pushed by President Barack Obama.
