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Saturday, June 10, 2006

Cannon-Jacob rivalry seen as GOP bellwether

Utah race is drawing national media attention

By Tad Walch
Deseret Morning News

PROVO — A CNN news crew will film today's debate between Chris Cannon and John Jacob at Utah Valley State College as the international news organization prepares to explore America's illegal-immigration debate through the Republican primary in Utah's 3rd Congressional District.

Jacob had planned to take a day off from the campaign trail on Friday but instead chose to hold a press conference to address the national attention the race has received, including comments from conservative radio megastars Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

Jacob said a reporter for Congressional Quarterly told him this week that single-issue candidates never get elected, and Jacob argued Friday the race is about more than illegal immigration.

"There's no question (the national attention on immigration) helps me, and for the nation it's a one-issue race," Jacob said. "But for Utahns, there are many issues."

He listed education, energy, the Second Amendment and fighting pornography as issues that interest 3rd District voters, based on poll results, but illegal immigration led the list — with 25 percent saying it is the most important issue. And Jacob acknowledged the possible national fallout should he upset Cannon in the June 27 primary.

"There's no question this is bigger than Chris Cannon and John Jacob," Jacob said. "This race could go a long way toward determining whether we have illegal immigration and amnesty or whether we'll send (illegal immigrants) back or invite them to go back and secure our borders."

The debate begins at 1 p.m. in the ballroom at UVSC's Sorensen Student Center, part of a voter expo open to the public from 12:30 to 5 p.m. with appearances by candidates in five primary races.

"Our events bring the one-stop shopping concept to voter-education," said Orem resident Jessica Connors, who is helping organize the expo for the non-partisan group Citizens' Resource. "The general public is encouraged to come meet the candidates personally, hear them debate the issues with their opponents and come away reasonably informed in a single afternoon."

Veteran CNN political reporter Candy Crowley flew to Utah on Friday and she and her crew will film the debate.

Both Cannon, a five-term incumbent, and Jacob consider themselves strong on borders, but Jacob and national immigration restriction groups have attacked Cannon for promoting guest-worker program legislation that would allow many illegal immigrants to work toward visas and possibly citizenship.

Cannon says his position is conservative because it addresses the needs of businesses and provides pragmatic answers to complex questions about securing America's borders and registering illegal immigrants. With Utah's unemployment rate hovering at 3 percent to 4 percent, he said a loss of a large number of workers in low-paying, unattractive jobs could cripple some companies.

Many see this Utah Republican primary as a canary in the coal mine for fall Congressional elections in which immigration will be a key issue as Democrats attempt to regain 15 seats from Republican and retake control of the House of Representatives.

"Actually, there's no question that's true," Jacob said. "Right now, if I get elected a lot of people will realize a guest-worker program is unacceptable."

In fact, some are aiming at Cannon, including former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Bay Buchanan, hoping a primary loss by a conservative in a conservative district might scare other congressmen out of supporting guest-worker legislation pushed by President Bush, Newt Gingrich and conservative Christian leader Gary Bauer. Buchanan is the founding chairman of the Team America political action committee run by anti-immigration Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

"So how do we stop the Congress from folding under the enormous pressure and agreeing to some guest-worker provision? First I propose we try to defeat Congressman Chris Cannon, an open-border Republican from Utah," Buchanan said earlier this week. "Defeating Cannon will send shock waves through Congress. Every one of those lawmakers will understand the message — 'back down from your no-amnesty position and pay the price in November.' ... So that is the immediate plan — target Cannon."

Cannon maintains he is for strong border control. His radio ads stress that he has voted for stricter screening at entry points, increased border surveillance and more border patrol agents. He also would require all immigrants to carry a tamper-proof ID card or face deportation.

The two millionaires have poured money into the race. Until recent small donations began to come in after comments by Limbaugh and Hannity, Jacob had provided nearly all of his own campaign funds. Cannon added $100,000 of his own money on Tuesday and raised another $100,000 at a Washington, D.C, fund-raiser on Wednesday, his campaign manager, Nathan Rathbun, said.

Jacob said Friday his campaign has prepared TV ads but hasn't decided whether they'll be used.

"That's very expensive," he said. "We have them ready, but we'll see if we need them at the end or not."


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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com