Theresa Palmgren-KTVB

Democratic congressional candidate Walt Minnick greets a motorist who bought gas for $2.26 per gallon gas at a Boise Chevron station.

BOISE -- Hundreds of motorists lined up at a Boise gas station this morning to get an opportunity to save more than $1 per gallon while filling up their tanks.

Democratic congressional candidate Walt Minnick sponsored the $2.26 per gallon promotion at the Cole Village Chevron aimed at drawing attention to a major campaign issue – how to solve the gas crisis. The price of a gallon of unleaded is currently selling for $3.59 at this gas station.

"It's pretty spendy, it's very spendy yeah!" said Tina Bolt.

"We're in a heck of hole now dependent upon foreign oil, and it is bankrupting our country," said Minnick.

Minnick is running against incumbent Congressman Bill Sali.  He says $2.26 was the price of a gallon of gas when Sali took office in 2007 - and it’s done nothing but go up since then.

Reaction to the campaign stunt

Minnick used the event to let Idahoans know Sali was holding a fundraising luncheon in Washington, D.C., where members of the oil and gas industry are the invited guests.

“He's having a fancy lunch with oil industry lobbyists," said Minnick.

Minnick accuses Sali of pandering to the oil industry.

The democratic challenger says his gas station event is not a ploy to buy votes, but rather a way to begin talking about what he sees as America's dependence on foreign oil.  Minnick says if he were in Congress he would focus more on environmentally responsible ways to finding an energy solution.

Sid Smith is the executive director of Idaho Republican Party.  He claims Sali has a better solution.

"At the same time Minnick talks about conservation, he's lowering the price of gas, he's increasing the demand here today," said Smith.  "More conservation and more alternative fuels like ethanol. And nuclear energy needs to be part of the mix too.  I think it's interesting that Minnick would advocate finding solutions to our energy problems by cutting out an entire section of the energy industry."

We asked drivers if today's event changed any votes.

"I definitely would vote for somebody who's trying to make a difference," said Debbie Foreman.

"I'm a Republican and I support my candidate," said Georgia Golling, Sali supporter.

Campaign organizers for Minnick tell us that in 90 minutes about 350 cars showed up and more than 3,200 gallons of gasoline were pumped, saving Idaho drivers more than $4,200.