Republican baffled by Tea Party endorsement of Democratic rival

John Foster, a spokesman for Minnick who called the endorsement “a total surprise,” said the congressman, who voted against the recent health-care bill, is known for voting for restraining the government’s pocketbook. “Walt has consistently voted for fiscal responsibility,” Foster told The Daily Caller.

Foster said he thinks Minnick garnered respect from Tea Partiers in August when the congressman was the only member of the Idaho delegation to accept an invitation to sit down with a Boise Tea Party group in person. “Just going surprised a lot of people,” Foster said.

“It was just having the willingness to sit down and talk with people,” he said. “They appreciate that.”

Asked if Minnick considers himself a Tea Partier, Foster just said the congressman is “glad” Tea Party groups have raised awareness to fiscal issues.

“Walt considers himself first and foremost an Idahoan. And Idaho has a long record of this Libertarian approach to government: stay out of my house and don’t spend too much of my money. And he’s reflective of that.”

Since hearing news of the endorsement, Foster said he’s “only talked briefly to” the Tea Party Express and said he didn’t know how involved — or involved at all — the group would be in the congressional campaign.

UPDATED to clarify Minnick’s votes on bailouts. Foster adds: “Walt, as a former CEO of a Fortune 1000 company, finds corporate bailouts on the taxpayer dime offensive and wrong. He urged forced bankruptcy for the auto companies and AIG, for example.” A previous version alluded that Minnick had voted for major bailout bills.

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