State Update

The nation's newest governor

Jim Risch of Idaho became the nation's newest governor on Friday, taking over for Dirk Kempthorne, who was confirmed and sworn in as the new U.S. secretary of the interior on the same day. Risch's formal inauguration is scheduled for this Friday (June 2).

A few interesting tidbits about the transition. First, Risch is running for re-election for lieutenant governor in November, even though he'll be serving as the top exec in the until then.

Second, in the meantime, Risch can pick his own lieutenant governor. Already, a familiar name has already surfaced, reports the Idaho Statesman:

Risch has yet to announce whom he will appoint as lieutenant governor. Idaho law requires Senate President Pro Tem Bob Geddes to "serve as acting lieutenant governor" until Risch names a replacement.

Kempthorne's wife, Patricia, asked Risch to consider her for lieutenant governor. She has said she's not sure she wants to move to Washington.

Who's chicken now?

There's three candidates looking to succeed Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne (whose nomination as Interior Secretary passed a Senate committee today). And now two of them are ganging up on the third. From Eye on Boise:

Republican Dan Adamson and Democrat Jerry Brady, both of whom are running for governor, held a joint press conference this afternoon in front of a Meridian chicken coop, to announce that Brady is willing to step in for Congressman Butch Otter and debate Adamson on Thursday.

Otter, who also is running for governor, backed out of the live televised debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Idaho Press Club and Idaho Public Television, citing conflicts with votes in Congress. Idaho Public TV scrambled and offered three alternate dates for the GOP primary debate, but Otter’s campaign rejected all three, saying he was booked. Public TV officials said they’ve already scheduled alternate programming – a call-in Dialogue program about Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s confirmation as secretary of the interior – and the offer didn’t match rules for the primary election debates.

Brady said, “Idaho voters deserve a real debate on the important issues facing the state. If Butch Otter is too afraid to face Adamson, I’m happy to step in.” He added, “Idaho middle-class families need a champion, not a chicken.” He said the press conference was held at a chicken coop because “to be fair, we thought Otter should have a representative at our event.”

Who's up, who's down

The latest Survey USA results are in. The vast majority of govs didn't have a lot of movement in their popularity since February's poll. But there are some exceptions.

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds (R) took the biggest hit in the nation -- losing 14 percent -- after signing a law to ban abortions in the state, in direct contradiction to Roe v. Wade. That said, his approval rating is still at 58 percent.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) fell 9 points as she and Republicans sparred over how many National Guard troops to send to the Mexican border to deal with illegal immigration. She, too, earned approval among 58 percent of those polled.

Other govs with noticeable drops are:

• Sonny Perdue (R) of Georgia, down 8 points to 52 percent
• Brad Henry (D) of Oklahoma, down 8 points to 66 percent
• Robert Ehrlich (R) of Maryland, down 7 points to 48 percent
• Jodi Rell (R) of Connecticut, down 6 points but still riding high at 75 percent
• John Lynch (D) of New Hamsphire, down 6 points to 64 percent

Both of last month's two most popular governors -- Rell and Joe Manchin (D) of West Virginia -- had fall-offs this month. Manchin lost 5 points. But then again, it's pretty tough keeping approval ratings up near 80 percent.

And, yes, there's good news too.

Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) leads the pack with most improved ratings. He added 7 points and is now liked by 59 percent of responders. Vilsack was in the throes of a legislative session when the poll was out, pushing for more money for education and promoting his economic development program. But the poll was taken before he signed a law outlawing the video gambling machines the state lottery had rolled out.

In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour (R) went up 6 points to 54 percent approval. He's received a lot of credit for the Katrina aid package recently passed by Congress, in which Mississippi fared well.

Dirk Kempthorne, the Idaho Republican recently tapped as President Bush's nominee to head the Interior Department, also added 6 points, to arrive at 62 percent approval. The poll was taken before the announcement of his possible promotion.

Other govs with health doses of good news (all going up 5 points):

• Mark Sanford (R) of South Carolina, up to 52 percent
• Michael Easley (D) of North Carolina, up to 55 percent
• Jon Corzine (D) of New Jersey, up to 51 percent