There is a saying common among the Irish about arguments: Is this a private fight, or can anyone join infi

When it comes to elections for members of the state's congressional delegation the answer should always be "It's a private fight."

Unfortunately, that message doesn't seem to get out loud and clear.

In the days building up to Utah's primary election, voters in the 3rd Congressional District were bombarded by campaign calls seeking to drum up the vote for U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon. While pleas from Cannon and his wife are understandable, the calls also included President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Some voters got so many of the calls that they were ready to file a restraining order against someone -- anyone -- to make it stop.

While the Bush couple's messages may show that Cannon is more than a bench-warmer in Congress, it is not really a meaningful endorsement. Nor was having House Speaker Dennis Hastert come out to stump for Cannon two years ago, or Maryland resident Alan Keyes, who pitched for John Swallow, who was challenging U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, in 2002. Keyes also endorsed Parley Hellewell's unsuccessful bid for governor.

Sure, it shows that the candidates know some powerful people, but these endorsers don't live here. It is a little presumptuous for someone from Illinois, Maryland or Texas to tell Utahns who will best represent their interests. Not only are the outsiders not intimately familiar with Utah and its issues but they do not have to live with the consequences of the election. It's easy for someone to tell people to vote for candidate X if they don't live in the candidate's district and won't be directly affected by the election.

The meaningful endorsements come from people who live here. Such endorsers are known to us, and we have a sense of what they know about our unique issues, as opposed to someone who was given a briefing paper on the flight to Salt Lake.

A Utahn who endorses a Utah candidate has a stake in the outcome. He or she will be affected for a long time to come. He is in the same boat with the rest of us; therefore, his words should carry greater weight.

The many out-of-state endorsements create the impression that the candidate is going to be beholden to outside interests. It appears that the one making the endorsement is expecting to get something in return. Will the candidate be more receptive to his powerful friends than the people who actually voted for himfi Utahns are already leary of out-of-state special interests meddling in state affairs. Endorsements from outside the state only strengthen the perception and increase the uneasiness.

With the coming election, Utah's candidates would do well to get endorsements from people who live here. Tell the national celebrities that this is a private matter and not just anyone can join the fray.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A5.

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