Cannon Fired
Rep. Chris Cannon's (R-UT 03) luck finally ran out. In voting yesterday, Gov. Huntsman ex-CoS Jason Chaffetz (R) defeated Cannon 60-40%. Cannon is the third incumbent to lose a primary this cycle, adding his name to a list that includes Reps. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD 01) and Al Wynn (D-MD 04).
Cannon has been in office since '96, but didn't start having problems until '04, after immigration became a serious issue in the CD. GOP primary challengers portrayed him as "pro-amnesty," and ran to Cannon's right on the issue. In UT's primary system, each party's candidates run in a convo, and if no one receives 60% of the vote, the top-2 finishers move to a primary. In '04 and '06, Cannon won the convo vote, but not with 60%, and was forced into a primary. He won each handily, however.
This year, Chaffetz took 59% at the May convo, and came within 10 votes of winning the nod outright. But past results comforted Cannon, and many believed that a wider electorate, not just the more conservative party insiders, would save him once again. But that was not the case, as last p.m.'s results nearly matched convo's results.
All this came despite the fact that Cannon outspent Chaffetz nearly 7-1. Chaffetz had no campaign HQs, and no paid staff. But his campaign has been a surprise throughout, as he shocked most observers by taking the convo. Most had believed that if Cannon was going to lose that vote, it would've been to ex-Juab Co. prosecutor/ex-Gov. Leavitt (R) brother David Leavitt (R). But Chaffetz clearly had a solid grass-roots campaign and overcame the strong fundraising effort by the incumbent.
Chaffetz attacked Cannon, during the six-week primary, on playing politics with oil-shale production, a growing issue in UT, and also for voting for bills that increased spending. He also, of course, hit him on missing votes on immigration, and for voting the "wrong way" on several other immigration-related bills. Cannon, meanwhile, charged Chaffetz with misrepresenting his record, and defended his conservative positions. He also attacked Chaffetz for living outside the CD (Chaffetz lives in Rep. Jim Matheson's (D) CD), and said if Chaffetz really wanted to help the GOP, he'd run against Matheson.
To be sure, immigration was a huge factor for voters this cycle, but it didn't seem as loud an issue as it had been in past challenges to Cannon. Whether it was Chaffetz's inability to run ads, or whether the issues environment had shifted just a bit, immigration seemed to have played a lesser role in the campaign. But, it surely was a crucial issue for voters, as it had been in the past two challenges.
Chaffetz will now face journalist/prof. Bennion Spencer (D) in the fall, but in this overwhelmingly GOP CD, he is the solid favorite.
(TIM SAHD)
most people think that wynn is a democrat. you might want to change that...
What's really fascinating about the Cannon loss is that he survived earlier matches against inexperienced candidates. But combine his pro-immigration record with an opponent who actually understands Utah's politics, and you get a 60-40 loss? That is surprising.
But then again, this IS the state where Merrill Cook, who seems certifiably mentally unhinged, won two terms in Congress.
Its funny that a state like utah which dose not contribute anything to the nation is blaming their own INCOMPETENCIES ON POOR MIGRANTS ?
GET A LIFE YOU'LL, STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR OWN LIFE,TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN SUCCESS / FAILURES. YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PROFESSION.
Utah voters ousted Rep. Chris Cannon in Tuesday’s GOP primary, expressing their discontent with the six-term congressman on illegal immigration. The nomination of Jason Chaffetz, a challenger whose central issue was enforcement on illegal immigrants deportation. Cannon alienated anti-illegal alien advocates over the past few years with his Viewpoint that illegal immigrants should have access to state government benefits. Cannon sponsored a bill in 2003 that would have given children of illegal immigrants in-state college tuition. He also supported legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to enter a that was fostered by a guest worker program..
With between 15 to 30 million illegal aliens squatting in this nation, it is obvious that 80 percent of Americas population want change? The cost to taxpayers that has been forced upon them by parasite employers, has now began to surface in today's repressive economy.
Whereas Chaffetz, proposed the removal of illegal immigrants out of the United States, and also stated he supports removing automatic citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants in the country, that was fostered in error by a liberal court. That American citizens are angry and frustrated with our pathetic elected officials is of no doubt? State Governors, Mayors and the timid retinue of community supervisors who pander to the illegal alien special interest lobby, should be aware of this warning. NUMBERSUSA.