As there isn't a U.S. Senate race in Nevada this cycle, about which we could write at My Silver State - Nevada's progressive community blog, and there are no major candidates yet to challenge Republican Congressmen Dean Heller (NV-02) and Jon Porter (NV-02), I'd like to take a look north across the Nevada stateline to Larry LaRocco's run for the U.S. Senate in Idaho.

By looking beyond Larry Craig's resignation announcement, I'd like to make an argument why Larry LaRocco is an ideal candidate to be featured on the Blue Majority fundraising page run by Daily Kos, Open Left, MyDD and the Swing State Project.

Just in case you don't know Larry LaRocco yet, watch this video about a true "working" candidate.

A couple of days ago, Larry was live blogging at Daily Kos, you can also read more about him on his campaign website where he has also posted about the jobs he's been working thus far.

So, with all the Senate candidates out there, why would Larry LaRocco be an ideal Blue Majority candidate, one the national netroots should be supporting?

First, I'll just let today's Washington Post speak for me:

The Craig scandal is only the latest issue to demoralize the Republican Party, and new wild cards keep springing up, such as an FBI raid on a home of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and questions about the role that Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) may have played in the firing of U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias in Albuquerque. Democratic surrogates in labor-backed groups such as Americans United for Change have even been attacking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) in Kentucky.

The Cook Report considers those three seats and the Idaho seat "likely Republican," but if the GOP is forced to spend any money defending them, it would be siphoning funds from races where the money would be badly needed. As of June 30, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had $20.4 million on hand, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee had $5.8 million in its bank account.

"If Republicans are investing significant money in Idaho, that means they are losing at least five seats in 2008," said Nathan L. Gonzales, political editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report. "If Idaho ends up the fire wall, they are in deep trouble."emphasis added

Now, the conventional wisdom, including in this Washington Post piece, is that Idaho is likely to stay Republican, that Larry LaRocco is unlikely to win. We all know conventional wisdom can be challenged as has been proven in the Senate races in Virginia and Montana last year. Watch out for an additional conventional wisdom this cycle, especially if Lt. Gov. Jim Risch will replace Craig, that Larry LaRocco can't win as he has already lost twice against Risch (1986, State Senate; 2006 Lt. Gov, with Risch being the incumbent in both elections). We ought to challenge these conventional wisdoms because wise they're not.

First of all, this is a federal election. Very different dynamics come into play when people vote for a U.S. Senator opposed to a rather powerless Lt. Governor.

Also, Larry LaRocco has represented Idaho in Congress before (1991-1995). He's got the experience, he knows what he's talking about.

Most importantly, though, we're currently witnessing the implosion of the Republican party as we know it. Corruption, moralistic hypocracy, and, first and foremost, the Iraq occupation have not only led to the Democrats recapturing the majority in the House and in the Senate. It may also lead to the election of a Democratic President and an increased majority in Congress next year.

We all know how it's gonna work. The establishment support and money will mostly go along the conventional wisdom. It is most likely to go to New Hampshire, Minnesota, Maine, Oregon, Colorado, and also Virginia now. That's good and hopefully we will win all of these seats.

That said, last year has proven that the netroots can have an impact in unlikely races with small media markets. Idaho and Larry LaRocco fit this mold perfectly, as do Andrew Rice in Oklahoma and a possible Mark Begich candidacy in Alaska, by the way.

What could be more wonderful than having Idaho as the Republican firewall? It's not unlikely as the Club for Growth may force a primary on whoever will be appointed to Craig's seat. This can only strengthen Larry.

In 1982, Larry LaRocco had zero support from the DCCC and yet got 46.5% of the vote. Back then there was no internet, blogs didn't exist. This time we can help him out and help him win.

If you want to support Larry know, here's his campaign website and his ActBlue page.

Cross posted at Daily Kos, Open Left, and the Swing State Project.