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From Idaho’s Liberal Stronghold Come Diverse Views Of November Election

Molly Messick
/
StateImpact Idaho

There aren’t many places in deep red Idaho where you’re likely to hear the kind of proud introduction Gini Ballou offered up not long after we met.

“I’m Gini Ballou,” she said.  “My mother stopped to vote for John F. Kennedy on her way to the hospital to have me.  And the greatest gift I ever got for my birthday was the ’08 election, when I was given President Obama on my birthday.” 

Ballou is a mother of four, a bartender, an entrepreneur, and – last but not least — chair of the Blaine County Democrats.  Last week, as the vice-presidential debate came to a close, she and the rest of the small group that had gathered for a watch party at county Democratic headquarters pulled their chairs into a circle.  They were fired up and ready for discussion.   Click here to continue reading...

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