Lots of money being spent

BOISE -- The fate of Idaho’s 1st congressional seat is a toss-up.

That according to the Cook Political Report, a well-respected non-partisan political research group.

The new report gives equal chances for Republican incumbent Bill Sali and Democratic challenger Walt Minnick.

The tight race has infused the 1st District with thousands of dollars in ad money as both candidates’ campaigns and national party groups angle for control.

Campaign workers are using the last eight days before Nov. 4 to make a last minute push in what is now being called a very tight race for Idaho’s 1st District seat.

USA Today calls it a "tossup," and big national money has been spent on both sides.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has dropped over $300,000 on Idaho ads -- trying to bring the seat back to Democrats for the first time in 16 years.

And the National Republican Congressional Committee has spent similar money -- over $240,000.

“We have a lot of support out there, we have more support than we did two years ago, and people like the work he's doing in Washington,” said Sali spokeman Wayne Hoffman.

“There's obviously a lot of attention on this race and I think that's again because the troubles Bill Sali has had a congressman and the ineffectiveness in Washington, people are really ready for a change and that's why Walt's getting so much support,” said Minnick spokesman John Foster.

Minnick’s camp has volunteers staffed 12 hours a day to call on voters for the week left leading up to the election.    

Sali's campaign is focusing on phone calls and mailers.

Each group knows every vote will count.

“We feel very comfortable right where we are.  I was a reporter for 18 years and each of those years there was a poll that came out that said the other folks were gonna win,” said Hoffman.

“Our goal all along was to gradually pick away at it and do the best job possible and that we have a good chance of winning right now,” said Foster.

The Cook Report broke states down into likely or leaning to go to Republicans or Democrats in this election.  Twenty-four seats, including Idaho’s 1st District, were classified as toss-ups.

The last time a congressional seat in Idaho went to a Democrat was in 1992 when Larry LaRocco won the race.

In the following election in 1994, that seat was won by Republican challenger Helen Chenoweth.