Posted on 03/24/2010 10:45:12 PM PDT by Chet 99
Sen. Bob Bennett's re-election bid could be in serious trouble, based on reports of widespread opposition to the incumbent at Tuesday's Republican caucuses.
While not definitive, interviews with a dozen caucus-goers around the state reflected a familiar theme:
Support was not coalescing behind any Bennett challenger, but there was a strong "anybody-but-Bennett" sentiment. Jim Bennett, the senator's son and campaign spokesman, said the campaign is optimistic and believes that many Bennett supporters got elected as delegates, but may not have made as much noise as the anti-Bennett crowd.
"We're waiting for the hard data to come in, but we are encouraged by what we've seen so far," he said. "We've heard plenty of anecdotal evidence that Senator Bennett has done very well in parts of the state and we've also heard there is a very large contingent of people who are genuinely open to deciding who they are going to support."
Over the next six weeks, Bennett and his challengers will fan out to solidify support from the newly elected crop of 3,500 delegates. Bennett would need to get support from 60 percent of the field to avoid a June primary and more than 40 percent to avoid being bounced at convention.
Bennett is being challenged by attorney Mike Lee, businessman Tim Bridgewater, conservative activist Cherilyn Eagar, former congressman Merrill Cook and a handful of lesser-known hopefuls.
The degree with which people were frustrated with Bennett was surprising, said Ryan Frandsen, who attended his caucus in Provo.
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
Sounds like the people in UT are motivated. People are jumping out of their skin and they are pissed.
Anybody but McCain too. JD or even a burro would be better than McCain. Go JD.
people felt like Bennett had broken his promise to only serve two terms.
________________________________________________________________________________
That would be enough, right there, for me to kick him to the curb. People get to Washington and get “Power crazy”.
I think that unless his lips are firmly planted on the voters’ rear ends, he only deserves one term. Looking at his record, he only deserves one term.
I’m tired of Republican and Democrat politicians trying to lead us.
I know that's neither here nor there, but I throw it out there for the entertainment of my fellow Freepers.
From a caucus attendee in Provo: Mike (Lee) is appealing because he is a constitutional scholar. He was legal counsel to Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, He clerked for Justice Samuel Alito. His father was Rex Lee, Dean of the BYU Law School, President of BYU, and Reagan’s Solicitor General. At lunch a few months ago, Mike told me he wants to get up every morning as a U.S. Senator with this question on his mind? “How can I defend the Constitution today?”
If Mike wins, it will be a shot heard ‘round the nation and the world. People will say that Utah has elected a U.S. Senator who is willing to do everything in his power every day to defend the Constitution. Mike’s a brilliant and vigorous young man. He’ll devote his vast knowledge and energies to fight for our freedom.
I've contacted friends and relatives who attended 15 other caucuses last evening. Not one person has told me that a delegate was elected who openly advocated Bennett.
More at link.
What's he been doing / not doing?
At National Review “Jim, there is a Mormon tradition about the U.S. Constitution that dates back to the 19th Century when some Church leaders said there may come a time when the U.S. Constitution would hang by a thread and the members of the Church would step forward to help save it. The phrase “hanging by a thread” was repeated many times by many different speakers at the caucus yesterday.”
Just kidding :-)
We all talk about getting rid of RINOs. Well here is a great opportunity. Let’s beat Bennett in the primary. Whoever the GOP picks will be elected in Utah this November.
Mike Lee sounds like a great candidate. I am going to send him some money.
Here is his website:
I live in the Ogden area. Believe me, this skunk has been in our sights for a while. Time to take out the trash.
Or in this case, the carcass.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.