Star-Tribune Editorial Board

University of Wyoming instructor Chris Rothfuss may be a political newcomer, but he's our clear choice to win his first election.

His opponent is Torrington house and sign painter Al Hamburg, a perennial candidate whose presence on the ballot is difficult to take seriously, even though his main issue, what he calls "the stupid, wasteful war in Iraq," is a vital one. But Rothfuss also wants to safely withdraw our troops.

Rothfuss, who has a doctorate in chemical engineering, brings a lot to the table. He says he wants to bring a scientist's perspective to the energy issue.

He has called for a balanced, long-term energy policy that includes coal, oil, natural gas, wind, solar, geothermal and nuclear power. Rothfuss wants to double the domestic coal production - which would obviously benefit Wyoming - and liquefy that additional amount, to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. He says that the $1.5 billion a day the nation is shipping overseas for oil can be spent on the U.S. economy instead.

Neither candidate has a lot of money to spend, but Rothfuss has nonetheless mounted an energetic campaign and met a lot of Wyoming people by traveling to parades and fairs this summer. He will face a well-financed, popular incumbent in Republican Sen. Mike Enzi in the general election, so it can't hurt to have youthful enthusiasm on his side.