Thread: Utah Republican Says He's Happy He Lost Primary

Utah Republican Says He's Happy He Lost Primary

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 9:30 PM

SALT LAKE CITY -- U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, a conservative Republican who lost his primary to an opponent who accused him of not being conservative enough, said Wednesday that his defeat frees him to move on to pursue other opportunities.

Jason Chaffetz won Tuesday's primary with 60 percent of the vote. Fewer than 10 percent of the eligible voters cast ballots, according to state election officials.

"I'm actually pretty happy about last night's results," Cannon told The Associated Press. "I think I'll be able to do many of the things I would ordinarily do in Congress on the outside without having to suffer the sort of difficulties that come with that job."

He didn't go into specifics, but said he wanted to stay involved in Utah politics.

It was the third consecutive time Cannon had been forced into a primary after failing to win his party's nomination during state conventions. Chaffetz and Cannon's previous opponents had all campaigned on the theme that Cannon isn't conservative enough to represent the 3rd District, one of the nation's most Republican districts.

The lobbying group American Conservative Union said Cannon was nearly perfect on its issues in 2007, scoring 96 percent. But Chaffetz repeatedly pounded the incumbent, especially on immigration, and pledged to be even more conservative.

Chaffetz, former chief of staff to Gov. Jon Huntsman, will face Democrat Bennion Spencer, a former television reporter, in the November general election.

Cannon said low turnout coupled with a general disdain for Republican leadership cost him the election in the district that primarily covers Salt Lake City's southwest suburbs.

He said that while he's glad he won't serve a seventh term, he had felt he owed it to his constituents to run for re-election this year.

Cannon said he's withholding his support from Chaffetz for the immediate future.

"I guess I need to get to know Chaffetz a little bit. I don't know enough about him to make a commitment," Cannon said.

http://www.newsmax.com/politics/cannon_ ... 07388.html

Another Incumbent Republican Bites the Dust

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 3:03 PM

By: Rick Pedraza

U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, a six-term incumbent congressman from Utah, went down in flames Tuesday in the 3rd District primary, defeated by Republican Jason Chaffetz.

Cannon, one of the nation's most conservative congressmen, lost his bid for a seventh term to Chaffetz, an underfunded political newcomer who made opposition to illegal immigration, rejection of amnesty, and support for tough deportation policies the driving factors in his campaign.

Cannon reportedly outspent Chaffetz by a margin of seven-to-one, according to an Associated Press report, and had the entire GOP establishment from the White House on down backing him.

The election, which focused on whether Cannon was conservative enough, lost to Chaffetz by a margin of 60 percent to 40 percent. Voter turnout was described as low.

Chaffetz, a former Brigham Young University football player who served as chief of staff for popular Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman, repeatedly pounded the incumbent on immigration during the campaign and pledged to be even more conservative.

During the months leading to the primary, Chaffetz claimed Cannon was soft on immigration, saying his votes amounted to offering amnesty to people in the country illegally. Chaffetz says he wants the U.S. to deport all illegal immigrants and stop granting automatic citizenship to children born here if their parents aren't legal residents.

"I think we have a mandate to help return the Republican Party to its core conservative principles," Chaffetz tells The Associated Press. "People [are] fed up and we empowered them to come [be] involved and make the changes we need."

Cannon, who had no immediate public comment on the election result, had hoped his name recognition, a large amount of campaign cash, and a pool of more moderate voters would propel him again to the Republican nomination. An endorsement from President Bush was also expected to help.

Chaffetz will face Democratic candidate Spencer Bennion, a former television reporter, in the November general election.

http://www.newsmax.com/politics/cannon_ ... 07217.html

Great! We are happy you lost too!

W

We are very very happy you lost....and you are a loser...with a capital L....but not capitol for long and a loser that spent 7 to 1