Attention at Republican headquarters election night was more on the presidential race than the results of a relatively dull state primary.
Two business associates of President Clinton were convicted of criminal charges and his successor as Arkansas governor, Jim Guy Tucker, also was convicted and will resign.Sen. Larry Craig drew a roar from the crowd when he asked, "Is it possible that Hilary and Bill Clinton were involved?"
Craig promised "a lot of fireworks and a lot of excitement" from the Senate Banking Committee in coming months, hoping to keep the Whitewater case in front of voters.
A lot of Republicans didn't know exactly what had happened in the case on Tuesday but felt it would certainly help the chances of their presumptive presidential nominee, Bob Dole, who has been trailing badly in the polls.
Craig urged GOP workers to work hard to keep Idaho's congressional delegation all Republican. "We are a force of four," he said, because members don't cancel each other's votes.
Rep. Helen Chenoweth, who ran into unexpected opposition from political unknown Dr. William Levinger, said Republicans need to keep their slim margin to retain control of Congress.
"Send reinforcements," she said. "We need 20 more."
Chenoweth got 68 percent of the vote over Levinger but felt the returns indicated many 1st Congressional District voters crossed over to vote in her contest instead of the Democratic primary, won by Boise attorney Dan Williams.