MICHAEL BARONE - In Utah, A Tough Year for the Overdog

Wall Street Journal ^ | MAY 15, 2010 | MICHAEL BARONE

[neverdem]

Bob Bennett's defeat in last Saturday's Republican primary might be the beginning of a national trend.

In the early 1990s, when incumbent members of Congress long thought to hold safe seats suddenly found themselves in political trouble over tax increases and the House bank, a Washington lobbyist friend lamented to me, "This is a tough year for the overdog." The same can be said, and perhaps with more emphasis, about election year 2010.

Case in point: Bob Bennett of Utah. Mr. Bennett, who has served three terms in the Senate, was just denied a place on the primary ballot by the state GOP convention in Salt Lake City. By all standard calculations, Mr. Bennett had a safe seat. For the past 18 years he had a largely conservative voting record representing what is by many measures the nation's most Republican state. He exudes not a whiff of scandal. And he has a fine political pedigree: His father Wallace Bennett served four Senate terms from 1951 to 1975.

But last Saturday, Mr. Bennett finished third at the convention, with 25.91% of the votes. Two other candidates—Mike Lee, a former aide to Gov. Jon Huntsman, and businessman Tim Bridgewater—had 28.75% and 26.84% respectively. Under Utah law, only the top two finishers can appear on the primary ballot. And so a tearful Mr. Bennett conceded, only later leaving open the possibility that he might run as an independent.

What riled Utah Republicans against Bob Bennett? One complaint was that he sponsored a health-care bill with Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden to eliminate the tax preference for employer-provided health insurance and subsidize premiums. The party activists and tea partiers who thronged to the state party convention evidently have little appetite for bipartisan initiatives—even those that might have saved the republic from what they regard as...

[Uncle Ike]

” he sponsored a health-care bill with Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden “

By their friends shall we know them....

[Carley]

And now the sore loser is talking about running as an independent. Candy Crowley was salivating at the idea.

If he could leave the party, ala Specter, it was good that he was voted out off the republican ballot.

[lurk]

IN HIS FIRST SENATE RUN, HE PROMISED TWO TERMS AND NO MORE. THAT WAS 18 YEARS AGO.

Yes, I’m yelling it.

What good is a man if he can’t keep his word?

Time to Go,

and take Orrin Hatch with you.

[taildragger]

That will be McCain as well when JD whoops his butt poltically.

My fear is this year will be night of the living Zombies with these Senators that just can't get it in their head it is time to leave...

[JPG]

I think that Utah has a ‘sore loser’ law that will not let him be on the ballot as an independent. He could run as a write in candidate. Good luck with that option.

[TheThinker]

The party activists and tea partiers who thronged to the state party convention evidently have little appetite for bipartisan initiatives—even those that might have saved the republic from what they regard as the ravages of ObamaCare.

First time Barone has made absolutely no sense to me. How would opposing the cutting of insurance subsidies to employers have saved us from the ravages of ObamaCare? Barone's head is in the sand or up his a$$.

And why would Tea Partiers even consider this a valid argument?

Republicans are running scared. It's time for the GOP to start LISTENING or maybe it's too late for that.

Perhaps most GOP incumbents should get the boot. Most people in November won't be voting for incumbents anyway and the Democrat stranglehold isn't as strong as past years. Sounds like a perfect time for some new blood.

[Carley]

How despicable that he would even consider running as an independent.

I did hear something about a write in but am happy to know Utah has a sore loser law.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

They all need to be primaried every election.Helps to keep them attuned to what their voters expect of them,not washington.