BOISE - Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards admitted Friday that media accounts of his affair with a former campaign staffer were true.

And Idaho Republican Party Chairman Norm Semanko was quick to compare Edwards to local Democrat Larry LaRocco.

"Idaho has changed a lot in 14 years, with a lot of new voters arriving in that time," Semanko said in a press release Friday. "I wonder how well those new arrivals truly know Larry LaRocco, and his past."

In 1994, LaRocco admitted that he misled Idaho voters regarding an affair with a former employee and the sexual discrimination lawsuit that followed.

LaRocco's former employer, Piper Jaffray, paid $40,000 in 1991 to settle a sexual discrimination lawsuit brought by the former sales assistant. He had previously called rumors of the relationship unfounded.

However, following an investigation by the Idaho Statesman, he acknowledged the affair.

The Spokesman-Review in Spokane dubbed the scandal the "LaRocco Horror Picture Show," and the Statesman in Boise refused to endorse LaRocco.

In 1990, LaRocco ran for the House of Representatives and won the First District seat. He was re-elected in 1992, winning every county in the district and a 50,000-vote margin over his opponent.

LaRocco was defeated in his attempt to win a third term in 1994 by Republican Helen Chenoweth. To date, he is the last Democrat to represent Idaho in Congress.

In a prepared statement released Saturday, LaRocco said his marriage to Chris LaRocco is strong.

"Nearly 15 years ago, I apologized to my wife, my family, and the people of Idaho. Strong marriages are not without difficult times. Chris and I and our family, supported by our faith, celebrate the strength and joy of our 41-year long marriage," LaRocco said. "My campaign is focused on giving Idahoans the voice that they have been denied back in Washington, D.C., and we are grateful for the enthusiastic support Idahoans continue to give us all across this great state."

In a press release Sunday, R. Keith Roark chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party responded.

"Less than two months into his job as chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, Norm Semanko has proved that he prefers the political muck and slime approach of Karl Rove to the high-minded, principled leadership of his predecessor, Kirk Sullivan," Roark said. "Semanko writes in a recent press release that presidential candidate John Edwards' admission to an extra-marital affair was "sparking widespread nostalgia among Idaho Republicans" about Larry LaRocco. Apparently, the Republican brand of nostalgia is very narrow in scope."

Roark questioned why Edwards' confession did not put Idaho Republicans in mind of the lapses of Steve Symms, Chenoweth and John McCain, or longtime Idaho Sen. Larry Craig's alleged solicitation of sex in a public bathroom.

"Larry LaRocco made his mistake, made his amends and moved on. Larry Craig continues to lie and mislead," Roark said.

Roark said he does not believe Idaho voters will be drawn into "tawdry gossip."

"But if Semanko is going to make sexual indiscretion the center piece of his leadership he will need to follow the example of our disgraced senior senator and take a wider stance - sexual indiscretion is not a one party affair," Roark said.