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Risch, Wasden replacement candidates

Associated Press
September 18, 2007

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said Tuesday he has interviewed Lt. Gov. Jim Risch and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden as candidates to replace U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, who says he's likely resign Sept. 30 following his arrest in a Minnesota airport sex sting.

Otter's comments came on the same day that Craig returned to Washington, D.C., for the first time since he pleaded guilty to charges of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Craig told The Associated Press that he still plans to resign at month's end, barring a successful attempt to reverse his guilty plea in court.

His next hearing in Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis is on Sept. 26.

An undercover officer at the Minneapolis airport alleged that Craig solicited him for sex. Craig has denied that, and says his only mistake was pleading guilty.

Otter said he's interviewed a total of about 19 people as potential Craig replacements, most of them by telephone. He's spoken with Republicans Risch and Wasden in person, he said. Otter still hasn't decided on a date in which he'll name Craig's replacement, if at all.

Craig apparently told Otter that one reason he returned to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, where he'll take part in votes and committee meetings he's missed since Congress reconvened two weeks ago following its August recess, is to gauge the level of support he receives from his colleagues. Previously, national GOP leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have said Craig should resign.

"This is what one of the reasons that Larry went back there this week," Otter said. "He's assessing the environment."

Both Risch, 64, and Wasden, 49, have expressed interest in running for the 2008 Senate seat, if Craig doesn't run for a fourth term. Otter said he wants to appoint somebody to the post that has an interest in running on the GOP ticket in the May primary and next November's general election so they gain an advantage over junior lawmakers for committee seats that could benefit Idaho.

"This will give Idaho a 15-month lead time on what's expected to be a major turnaround. This could give him 15 months additional seniority over all those junior senators who are coming in," Otter said. "That seniority is very, very valuable."

Neither Risch, who served a temporary stint as Idaho governor in 2006, nor Wasden immediately returned phone calls Tuesday seeking comment.

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AP writers Rebecca Boone in Boise and Matthew Daly in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

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