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WASHINGTON (AP) - Chalk up another win for the tea party. And another embarrassment for the Republican establishment. Tea party favorite and two-term state lawmaker Raul Labrador defeated Vaughn Ward, a Marine reservist heavily recruited by national Republicans, in Idaho's primary on Tuesday. Ward's loss comes on the heels of several other races in which GOP establishment candidates stumbled as the anti-Washington mood takes hold. National Republicans had coached Ward and had made him one of their first named recruits, known as "Young Guns." He also had the backing of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. On Wednesday, the GOP...

Full 26min Video of Sarah Palin Speaking At Vaughn Ward Rally In Boise

BOISE, Idaho — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had to quickly buy a new outfit before a rally in Idaho on Friday because her luggage got lost. Republican congressional hopeful Vaughn Ward introduced Palin before about 1,500 people and said she and her family arrived on time in Boise but their bags did not. Palin appeared in a shimmery light-blue jacket worn over a black, knee-length dress and joked: "I'm in borrowed clothes, again," referring to the designer clothes controversy during the 2008 presidential campaign. A spokesman says the Ward campaign bought the outfit from a Boise shop and Palin...

Out in Idaho, one tea party Republican has had enough of Sarah Palin. Lucas Baumbach, who's running for the state senate, is angry that Palin is butting in to the Republican race to unseat U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick (D). What's worse, she's endorsing the other guy. "I think she should let Idahoans pick for themselves instead of shoving a candidate down our throats," he told TPMDC in an interview today. Baumbach supports Raul Labrador, a conservative state representative who openly supports repealing the 17th Amendment. But Palin is stumping for Vaughn Ward, who was the Nevada state director for John...

<p>Sarah Palin’s presence at an event can draw thousands out to see her speak and evoke emotional responses from those who either love or detest her. It appears her presence will become a divisive force in Idaho politics when she comes Friday to the Qwest Arena to stump for Vaughn Ward, a Marine reservist vying with state Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, for the GOP nomination to take on Democratic incumbent Walt Minnick in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District. There will be protesters out to oppose her visit, but the group won’t be made up of anti-Palin Democrats; it will consist of anti-Palin Republicans angry over her involvement in local politics and her recent political endorsements. The group is being organized by Lucas Baumbach, a Republican candidate for the Idaho State Senate in District 17.</p>

Ward worked for Democrats in Idaho and Virginia, says IdahoReporter.com Submitted by Dan Popkey on Mon, 05/10/2010 - 9:39am. First Congressional District Republican candidate Vaughn Ward worked for Democrats in Idaho and Virginia, IdahoReporter.com reported Sunday. But Ward's campaign manager, Ryan O'Barto, said Ward did not support Democratic state Rep. Jim Hansen of Boise when he interned for him for college credit in 1989 or 1990 at the Legislature. O'Barto also told IdahoReporter.com that the records of the Virginia Democratic Party that show Ward as a volunteer for Gov. Tim Kaine in 2005 must be a mistake and that Ward...

Usually a handful of ex-soldiers seek political office every election cycle. But well over 20 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are running this fall for Congress alone. Almost all are riding a wave of public anger at incumbents over a profligate government and dishonest Wall Street -- and a general feeling that the current Democratic remedy has proven as bad as, or worse than, the recent Republican disease. The shenanigans of the previously Republican-controlled Congress -- the "Culture of Corruption" -- simply continued under the congressional Democrat majority, thanks to the likes of Chris Dodd, William Jefferson, Eric Massa, Charles...

SNIPPET: "The leadership of the Tea Party Express PAC came to the National Press Club on Thursday to herald its early successes and to unveil its expanded list of 2010 electoral targets." SNIPPET: "In an effort to show that the Tea Party Express PAC is not a “tool” of the Republican Party, but instead is an independent political force, Russo announced that the PAC is getting behind one conservative Democrat who has opposed President Obama’s agenda: Rep. Walt Minnick (ID-01). The decision to get behind Minnick is attention-grabbing because Republicans have fielded a strong candidate in that race: Iraq war...

http://www.vaughnward.com Note: The following text is a quote: http://www.vaughnward.com/vaughn-ward’s-statement-recent-video-pfc-bowe-bergdahl Vaughn Ward’s statement on the recent video of Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl Posted Fri, 04/09/2010 - 5:35pm “My thoughts and prayers go out to Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl and his family. As a Marine Corps Officer, we are taught to leave no man behind and this circumstance is no different. I support our military commanders on the ground in Afghanistan and know that we will continue to do everything we can to bring Pfc. Bergdahl home to Idaho. However, Walt Minnick recently made statements on this issue that can’t go unchallenged, suggesting the...

America, if you love your freedom, thank a vet! And if you’re looking for leaders who believe in integrity, service, and country first, look to our veterans. Last week I campaigned for a true American hero, John McCain, and this week I’d ask you to join me in supporting a new generation of heroes who are heeding their country’s call for leadership in Washington. There are a number of great veteran candidates running for office this year, and there are some excellent organizations dedicated to helping them, including: Iraq Vets for Congress and Combat Veterans for Congress (please click on...

Hunter: "Vaughn is a combat veteran whose judgment, especially on national security, is critically needed in America's Capitol" October 7,2009 Former Congressman and 2008 Presidential Candidate Duncan Hunter Sr. will be campaigning in Boise, Idaho on Wednesday for Republican candidate Vaughn Ward in Idaho's 1st Congressional district. Congressman Hunter (R-CA) served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 - 2009. During the 109th Congress, Congressman Hunter served as the House Armed Services Committee Chairman. In 2008, Congressman Hunter ran for the Republican nomination for President. "Vaughn is a combat veteran whose judgment, especially on national security, is critically...

Republican Vaughn Ward declared his candidacy for the 1st Congressional District of Idaho Tuesday in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Boise Tuesday.

Last night, Freedom Radio spoke with Combat Vet for Congress and conservative Republican candidate for Idaho's 1st District Vaughn Ward. Ward's 18 years of experience of public service includes: service with the Marines on missions in Liberia, Cuba, Japan, Korea and as a company commander in Iraq; as an Operations Officer with the CIA in the Middle East, Africa, and Washington, DC; and as a Legislative Aide on Senator Kempthorne’s staff where he worked on commerce, defense, energy, transportation, and veteran’s issues for the people of Idaho. He is running against first-term incumbent and self-proclaimed blue dog Democrat Walt Minnick....

As a Democrat in a very red state, Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick knew from the day he was elected that he would have a hard time holding on to his seat in 2010. But there's also an interesting tale to be told about just which candidate the Republicans will put up to run against Minnick. Political blogger Randy Stapilus has the story about how Ken Roberts, the majority leader of the Idaho House, has racked up a slew of statehouse endorsements and is well-plugged into the Idaho GOP establishment - but now looks like he could get swamped by newcomer...

CALDWELL, Idaho – While the national media wonder what Sarah Palin’s doing and what she’ll do next, she’s holed up working on her book, her father said Friday. “Sarah’s been out of town for almost a month now,” said Chuck Heath,who is on a campaign swing through Idaho for GOP congressional candidate Vaughn Ward. “I don’t know exactly where she is, but she’s writing her book. She e-mails me quite frequently. She asks, ‘Oh, what happened on June 13, 1978?’ This is material for her book.” Palin, the former Alaska governor whose turn as John McCain’s running mate last year...

WASHINGTON — The fathers of Sarah and Todd Palin will be joining forces this month to help an Idaho congressional candidate who's getting an early start on his 2010 election bid. Both Chuck Heath and Jim Palin will be in Idaho later on this month to help out Vaughn Ward, a Republican candidate for Congress. They’ll be attending events for Ward at the end of the month in Boise and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Ward's campaign spokesman said. The former Alaska governor's father is an Idaho native who graduated from Sandpoint High School in northern Idaho. Palin, Sen. John McCain’s vice-presidential...