Will announce in May. CQ Politics: Utah’s Election Process May Get a Workout in 2010 Senate Race.
With the exception of a token Democrat in Congress over the years, Republican races dominate the political landscape. The main theme with Republicans tends to be how many big names will run in the few election races available in a state that does not have much turnover.
So when the buzz began that three-term incumbent Sen. Robert F. Bennett might be challenged for his seat in the Republican convention by state Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, it reminded people of how unusual the state’s Republican Party election process is and how it is the ultimate system for party activists.
Shurtleff told CQ Politics Thursday that he is “definitely considering” running against Bennett in 2010 but will not decide until around May 1.
Shurtleff is a popular figure in Utah having been re-elected in 2008 for a third term with 69 percent.
There were some recent media reports which had him making a decision by the end of March but he said that he has a regularly scheduled state fundraiser in connection with Law Day on May 1 and he did not want to mix signals between the state and federal races.
He is thinking about running because “in a time of great crisis for our economy, it’s time for a change on how Congress spends money.”
[...]
Bennett has only been challenged once in a primary, in his initial run for the Senate in 1992 when he beat out Joe Cannon, brother of former congressman Chris Cannon (1997-2009), 51 percent to 49 percent.
He has received criticism from conservatives when he was seen as heavily involved in the process creating a $700 billion financial industry bailout fund last year. He also was a strong supporter of President George W. Bush even as the former president’s approval ratings took a hit. Conservatives became increasingly frustrated with Bush because of his deficit-creating budgets that Bennett voted for.
Shurtleff said that in his polling there are people who believe the bailout was “not only fiscally irresponsible but immoral.”
Ah, that shtick? You’re more creative than that, Mark!
Recent Comments