Gov. Butch Otter addressed more than 100 members of the Boise Young Professionals group at the state Capitol on Wednesday night. The theme of the evening was "Why Should Young Professionals Stay in Idaho?"

Otter's immediate response: "Because this is where's it's happening and this is where it's going to happen."

Otter spoke for more than an hour, answering a moderator's questions about what the state has to offer young professionals, what industries will lead the state out of its economic troubles, health care and liquor licenses.

Otter said he was interested in creating "careers, not jobs." He said applying new technologies to old Idaho businesses such as mining, timber and cattle were among the ways the state could rebound.

"To the extent we can apply the new innovations" to our base resources, Otter said, Idaho can become "the lowest cost producers and the highest quality producer" of goods.

Otter said the key to keeping Idaho competitive with other states in attracting business were stable tax and regulatory policies, something he has long advocated for.

Otter weaved stories about his childhood, eduction and work experience into his answers, displaying the charm for which he is known when talking in front of groups.

But there was an obvious generational and urban/rural gap between the governor and his audience. More than 50 percent of audience members are transplants to the area, as demonstrated by a pre-speech raising of hands.

When the 67-year-old Otter, who is running for re-election, explained his formal Western wear as a function of attending a funeral earlier in the day, he felt compelled to explain what an "out rider" — or someone who rides a horse in front of a procession — was.

Judging from the post-speech reaction and response on social networking sites such as Twitter, Otter left the bunch unimpressed.

"Otter talking abt old people, cowboying, corp tax breaks...not to this young professional crowd, for sure," wrote @whitnuld during the speech.

She followed up that tweet with this one: "Never heard a speaker so oblivious to their audience as Gov Otter @ Boise Young Professionals talk today. #oldwhiteguy #goodoldboy #geezer"

The tech-savvy audience, armed with Blackberrys and iPhones and tied to the Internet, chimed in with real-time comments during the speech — heckling without the rude interruptions.

"Gov Otter: "uh, uh, uh . . I could make up reasons . . " hahaha! The topic of education has him veclempt!" wrote @Urban_Lindsay.

"Glad I attended @BYP lounging event w/ Gov. Otter. Disappointed in his mostly empty responses," wrote @shellyisgoing.

The Boise Weekly also recapped Otter's speech before the group.