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Dark-horse challenger Jason Chaffetz took GOP incumbent Chris Cannon to the brink on Saturday but fell just short and will instead have to face him in a June primary.
"I've been going door to door for two years," Chaffetz said after the state GOP convention about how he proved the strongest candidate despite the big money spent by Cannon and David Leavitt, the brother of former Gov. Mike Leavitt. The primary winner will be the GOP candidate for the 3rd Congressional District race. Cannon only survived because of a last-minute effort on Leavitt's part to pass him his delegates. The final count at the UVSC-hosted convention was 59.01 percent for Chaffetz and 40.9 percent for Cannon. Forty percent is needed to force a primary. "Chris Cannon is more of a statesman than Jason Chaffetz and that's what America needs," Leavitt said of his move. "It's just the good ol' boys trying to protect themselves," Chaffetz responded. "It was disappointing but expected." Cannon is no stranger to primaries, having faced one all six times he's run for re-election. But he's never faced a such a close call at the convention. "If I could get a shave that close, I'd feel pretty good," he said. Chaffetz faces another uphill battle against Cannon in the June 24 primary, given Cannon's name, experience and money. It's not the first time Cannon has come out with fewer votes in a convention, but he has always handily won his primaries. Two years ago, he faced John Jacob in a primary, and won by nearly 7,000 votes. Federal Election Commission reports show Cannon has spent about $493,000 and had about $43,000 on hand through April 20. Chaffetz spent about $58,000 through April 20 and had about $33,000 available. In other races, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. handily won the nomination, and Bill Dew will move on to the U.S. House 2nd District general election after blowing past challengers, including former congressman Merrill Cook, with 69 percent of the delegate vote. He faces Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson. In the state treasurer's race, Mark Walker and Richard Ellis will face off in a primary. In the local races, state Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Eagle Mountain, buried Salem Mayor Lane Henderson for the GOP nod in Senate District 13. The vote was 70.3 percent to 29.7 percent. Madsen has been a senator since 2004 and will face Democrat Kenneth Peay of Spanish Fork in the general election in November. "I'm taking a couple of days off and catching up on some sleep," Madsen said. The party also unveiled an ad blitz designed to tell Utahns about the successes of the state's dominant party. Dubbed "I can" as in Republ"ican", it was announced by Utah National Committeeman Fred Lampropoulos, who committed $25,000 and started the passing of numerous cans at the convention to help raise money for the ads. They raised about $8,000 on Saturday. Watch billboards for the forthcoming ads. "It's no accident that we win awards like best place to raise a family," said party Chairman Stan Lockhart, about one of the state's honors. Republicans also gave Huntsman the nod to seek his second term in office Saturday. He'll face Democratic activist Bob Springmeyer, a Salt Lake City man who owns a research firm. Springmeyer won the Democratic nomination Saturday. His running mate for lieutenant governor will be Josie Valdez, the former assistant director of the Small Business Administration office in Salt Lake City. Springmeyer said he's not intimidated by Huntsman's high approval ratings and the Republican party's traditional stronghold on the state. "I think together, we can win this," he said. "The winds of change are blowing through Utah. There's a lot of excitement and I think there's going to be a lot of changes in November. I think that a lot of people that traditionally voted Republican are angry with the state legislature, they're angry the current governor hasn't stepped up and veto bills that should've been vetoed and they're angry with the state of the economy." Huntsman's weakest point among voters in the state was his past support for a private school voucher program. Huntsman signed a voucher bill into law that was later overturned by voters in a referendum before any vouchers were issued. For more on the Utah Republican Convention, go to http://blogs.heraldextra.com/sausagegrinder/.
• Associated Press reporter Brock Vergakis contributed to this report. Infobox
By the numbers:
• Primaries: 2
• Number of delegates in attendance: 3,298 (95 percent)
• Number of balloon drops that failed to open: 1 (David Leavitt)
• Amount raised by passing cans around: More than $8,000
The Cannon/Chaffetz throwdown heated up considerably after the second round, including an f-word-laced argument between a Cannon staffer and a relative of Chaffetz.
The argument was over whether Cannon's staff was campaigning on the floor in violation of the rules.
The second round of ballots gave nearly 100 more delegates to Chaffetz though David Leavitt sent volunteers around the floor toting Cannon signs, which some felt was a violation of party rules.
"Just because someone claims something doesn't make it true," said party Chairman Stan Lockhart. "What you saw was an awful lot of campaigning [on both sides.]"
Cannon and Leavitt later marched around the floor together shaking hands with delegates, which drew loud boos from many in the crowd.
It was Lockhart's first nominating convention as chairman and he said he felt it went well.
"We're all Republicans," he said. "Do we have people who disagree? Yeah."
Most delegates who were asked said it was a good experience.
"It's very empowering," said Debbie Reneman from Cedar City. "I feel important." |
