Utah Sen. Robert Bennett loses reelection bid

By Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times
May 9, 2010

Reporting from Salt Lake City

Utah Sen. Robert F. Bennett was defeated Saturday in his bid for reelection, making the three-term Republican lawmaker the first congressional incumbent to fall in this angry election season.

Bennett, who upset many conservative activists with his willingness to work across party lines, became the first Utah senator denied renomination in 70 years. More broadly, his defeat at the state GOP convention made him a symbol of the festering anti-Washington, anti-establishment sentiment coursing through the country.

"He's had his chance," said Nick Whitehead, 17, a volunteer who greeted delegates at the downtown convention center with a giant placard touting businessman Tim Bridgewater, one of seven Bennett rivals. "It's time for new blood."

Bennett, 76, whose father served four terms in the Senate, was not particularly unpopular among the bulk of Utah Republicans. He fell victim, however, to the state's unusual nomination process, which placed the choice in the hands of the most conservative — and most agitated — activists in one of the reddest states in the country.

Bennett, a conservative by most yardsticks, ran afoul of many at the party grass roots by supporting the 2008 Wall Street bailout — which he deemed necessary to save the economy — and by working with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon on a healthcare bill that would have required Americans to purchase insurance. The provision was similar to the plan President Obama signed into law over the opposition of Bennett and every other Republican member of Congress.

Bennett also antagonized many by breaking his pledge to serve just two terms in Washington — though he managed to win reelection in 2004 without GOP opposition.

Before the delegates voted Saturday, Bennett said, "I want to do this again because the fire in my belly is burning brighter than ever."

It was an animated speech, with Bennett repeatedly jabbing the air with a finger as he touted the power that comes with his long Washington tenure. Bennett also promised to step down after serving a fourth term.

Under the nominating system, the field of candidates was culled to three in the first round of balloting. Bennett survived that initial vote and made one final plea to the nearly 3,500 delegates before they cast ballots a second time.

The question, Bennett said, was which one of the finalists could most effectively thwart President Obama and the Democratic leaders in Congress. "Don't take a chance on a newcomer," the senator fairly shouted. "Keep a veteran on the floor when you're playing the championship game, because there's too much at stake to try things with a rookie."

But convention delegate Argie Shumway, like many, dismissed the importance of seniority, which Bennett made the centerpiece of his campaign.

"We want principled senators in there, even if they're freshman senators," said Shumway, 70, a retired flight attendant from Provo, who supported attorney Mike Lee.

Candidates were vying for the 60% support of delegates needed to clinch the nomination outright. Bridgewater received 37% and Lee 36% in the second round, knocking out Bennett, who finished with 27%. Lee and Bridgewater advanced to a third and final round of balloting. If neither wins 60%, they face a June 22 runoff, to be decided by GOP voters statewide.

mark.barabak@latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 6134.story