Bennett Won't Appear On Senate Ballot
Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) has lost the battle for a fourth term in office after delegates to the UT GOP convention refused to renominate him on Saturday, a highly-placed source with knowledge of the vote count tells Hotline OnCall.
Instead, GOPers will choose between attorney Mike Lee (R) and business consultant Tim Bridgewater (R), who will advance to a third ballot. If neither candidate receives 60% of the vote, they will face off in a June 22 primary.
On the first ballot, Lee led with 28.75%, followed by Bridgewater's 26.84%. Bennett finished third, with 25.91%. The remaining vote split among candidates who have openly opposed Bennett, making any comeback attempt a longshot to begin with.
Bennett, the 3-term incumbent with a largely conservative record, is the first victim of an angry GOP primary electorate, which is upset with his votes over TARP legislation and his work with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) to try and forge a health care consensus. He had been targeted by the conservative Club for Growth, which did not back a specific rival but urged delegates to vote against the incumbent.
Though he had support from top GOP leaders -- he is a close ally and personal friend of Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell, and ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney introduced Bennett on Saturday -- some party leaders publicly abandoned him. Bennett did not have a Rule 11 letter, which allows the national party to get involved on an endorsed candidate's behalf. The letter must be signed by the state party chairman and both national committee members.
Bennett's loss is unlikely to impact the balance of power in the Senate. The eventual winner between Lee and Bridgewater will likely face state Alcoholic Beverage Control commission chair Sam Granato (D) in Nov., but in deeply red UT, securing the GOP nomination is tantamount to winning statewide election.
But Bennett could still have an impact in the contest. He told the AP earlier today he would not rule out a write-in candidacy if he loses at the convention. If Bennett, who is still popular among the larger UT electorate, were to run, he could have a chance at becoming the first successful write-in candidate since the late Strom Thurmond did it in '54.
If he decides to run as a write-in, though, he will put national party leaders in a tough spot. The NRSC wasted no time in announcing it would back ex-FL House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) after FL Gov. Charlie Crist became an independent; despite Bennett's close ties to McConnell, national party leaders would have trouble making a decision to stick with Bennett logical.
Bennett will meet the press later today, after the results are made official.
Update: Lee finished with 36% of the vote to Bridgewater's 37% of the vote. Bennett finished with 27% of the vote.
So, Mitt backed a RINO and he couldn't get him nominated. Now, if that had been Palin, it would be front page news, and subjected to endless analysis. The fact that Mitt didn't have the power to get his man nominated will go largely unreported, and unnoticed.
So, the first real TEA PARTY casualty of the year.
Huge victory for the Tea Party movement. Conservatives are pissed and not playing the "lesser of two evils" game anymore.
Eventually our elected elites will figure out that they work for their base, not the party bosses and special interests. When the base says, loudly, NO on an issue, the elected demi-God stands up and salutes...Bennett sort of forgot. Bennett is not a RINO but he is infected with the republican 'go along to get along' mental disease so common in career politicians on our side.
The same type of thing is going to happen in Kentucky in the primary for Bunning's seat.
The GOP 'house' pick, and a McConnell ally is going to be beaten badly by Ron Paul's son, Rand.
Palin is the one to watch. This lady has been true to herself and supports those that represent what closely represent her beliefs. I respect her for that. Palin is not looking for anyones approval but just to stay committed to her conservative ideas. Let's support Palin and don't let the media try to change our minds about her. Palin 2012!!'
Sarah Palin has proved to be nothing more than an unprincipled party hack.Apparently what the left has been saying about her is true-she is a moron.Ironically,I have faithfully defended her against such attacks-when I thought perhaps she was a true conservative.Now she should return to Wassila and make sure the rest of her daughters don't get impregnated by more white trash.What a major disappointment!
It was clear at our tea party rallies that Bob was going to be toast. Please Bob, go ahead a run as a write-in candidate and prove everyone who voted against you was right...you're just another self-serving hack who only cares about himself and gaining more power. If you truly care about the country, then throw your support behind who ultimately wins the nomination and help him learn what he needs to know to to get what the people want done. If you don't, you're no better than Charlie Crist.
Richard, your intelligence is surpassed only by your writing skills. Sarah Palin needs your advice and I am sure she will thank you for giving it. Now call up stairs and see if your Mommy is looking for you for your mid day snack. Also ask her if you can stay in your jammies til Daddy gets home!
Conservatives and Republicans, it is time to wake up!! Romney's endorsement of Bennet has no bearing. This only shows that Romney, no matter what ads or polls syndicated by GOP and DNC insiders, is the leading among the other GOP nominee for 2012, he is unelectable!! The Polls that are showing that Romney is far better than Palin is just a modus-operandi of the DNC elites and RINOS inorder to discourage people to vote for Palin. If people made again mistakes of listening to the mainstream media and these polls, Romney will be the GOP 2012 nominee and it will guarantee a reelection of Obama. My observation speaks louder than those stupid polls. Palin is the only one who can crush Obama in 2012. Just another tactical operation by the DNC elites and beltway republicans
I love this alternate universe where right-wing conservative Bennett is called a "RINO." It's the state where Orrin Hatch can be booed off stage by Republicans...for being too liberal!
Oh, and please PLEASE nominate Sarah Palin. "She is not going to be president and will not be the Republican nominee unless the party wants to lose at least 44 states." - George Will
We already knocked off some State and County candidates backed by RINOs ourselves. We created 'RINO Hunting Association' t-shirts for our GOP convention.
http://nttp.spreadshirt.com
It's going on all over the country; Bennett is just the most prominent instance.
Bennet has been in DC too long, same with Hatch. These people have not done a good job and Hatch was the guy who seated ginsberg. McNasty also needs to go.
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Romney would have been the best nominee for 08 as his economic expertese would be essential...but the situation for 12 needs a different expert.
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Right now Gov Palin is the only choice. She made a bad pick in CA but still has the muscle.
You folks are missing the point. This has NOTHING tot do with Romney or Palin and the next presidential race. It has everything to do with the people taking control of Congress in 2010. We are sick of career politicians. We are sick of the status quo.
The American people by and large don't give a flying flip about endorsements. We don't care what Sarah or Mitt think. Believe it or not, we are totally capable of thinking for ourselves.
Where can I get my RINO hunting t-shirt?
I'm going to do my part in August in Arizona by helping to oust McCain by voting for JD Hayworth in the Arizona GOP Primary Election!
www.jdforsenate.com
Folks, this is getting very serious. Congress is out of control. It is our responsibility to correct it. I hope the GOP leadership understands what's happening.
Bob said he so sorry his "career" is over. Just maybe the voters are finished with having politicians meke a "career" out of serving those who put them into office. Serving should be a part time committment, not to be there forever.
Most won't miss him. Time is ripe for new people, new ideas, not the same songs over and over.
No 2nd Tea Party casualty of the year. Charlie (RINO)Christ was the 1st.
I think that RINOs and DINOs are good things because they provide people who are willing to work together to get things done. Filling the Capitol with 100 ideologically "pure" Senators will do nothing more than prevent progress from ever occurring. The mid-1990s saw a balancing of the budget, not because the halls of Congress were filled with ideologues, but rather because they were filled with dedicated people willing to serve to better their constituents and their country. To throw out veterans of that time like Senator Bennett because they are willing to negotiate is not just a bad thing for Utah, but for our country as well.
Russell, Congress has been filled with ideologues for decades. The American people are not opposed to compromise. That said, they are opposed to compromise when it means that the government is overstepping its authority. In Bennett's case that is supporting TARP and his support of requiring every citizen to purchase health insurance. There are times that being willing to negotiate is a very, very bad thing for our country.
Perhaps you are a person who doesn't care much about our Constitution and who believes in big government. That's your right to believe, but it is not your right to change or "fundamentally transform" our country. We need less government, not more. We need the government out of our personal lives. We need to spend our money as we see fit. Our government was created to have a very limited job. Those in power have abused it. We intend to limit their power, and the power of government going forward. Senator Bennett's willingness to compromise on issues like TARP and health care are not a good thing.
If transforming the country gets you out of it, Karen, then it's something we should all support.
Karen believes what she says, but has no idea how the process works. What really happened here is outside influences wiped out Bob Bennett right before he took the ranking member seat of the Banking committee. That would have given Utah a voice in how Banking is reformed along with Orrin Hatch on the Finance committee as ranking member it would have been an unusual position to give Utah such a voice.
By taking Bennett off the ballot Utah loses the seniority and ranking member seat. And what for? Another member of their own party who will make similar votes with less power. Utah loses money, jobs, and has no voice. Yeah I see how that helps the state of Utah.
Well state delegates you bought the sale of goods you can now live with your choice. It is no skin of Senator Bennett's back he could have retired anyway but saw there was a real opportunity to help the State. Oh and for those who think this vote will change anything in DC you are dreaming. Earmarks and seniority are going nowhere. Bennett said himself he wouldn't be running if it wasn't the right choice, and if term limits were in place then yeah fresh blood would make sense but there not. all that has happened now is you lessened Utahns voice in the State that is the bottom line. Well done delegates well done!
Concerned Utahn,
Thank you! I am not from Utah, but was at the convention and was fascinated at how many people did not understand how the senate works. Not just the banking and appropriations committee seats will be lost. The Energy and Natural Resources spot will be gone as well. Utah has lost its voice in Washington, not gained a new one, and will definitely feel the repercussions. Passion and anger only work in settings like a convention. Not too bright, are they? Agreed -- well done delegates, now you'll get what you asked for.
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