UT-Gov: Johnson leads convention, primary inbound

[RogueBeaver]

Led Herbert 55/44, goes to the primary.

[windjammer]

Sad Jim Matheson isn't running.

[This account no longer in use.]

Isn't Johnson a bit of a crazy?

[/]

What? I thought Herbert was really popular.

[Classic Conservative]

Yay

[Vosem]

What? I thought Herbert was really popular.

These are Republican convention-goers; they're absolute die-hards. Herbert is fairly moderate, so there ya go.

[Zioneer]

Isn't Johnson a bit of a crazy?

He's kind of a lot of a crazy; imagine any given Republican Governor of Utah's stances, and he's got one to the right. Public lands? He's to Herbert's right. Common Core? To the right. Medicaid Expansion? To the right. School vouchers? Due to his LG pick, also very to the right.

Johnson is a far right lunatic whose company (Overstock.com) stockpiled gold not too long ago in case the apocalypse happened.

Johnson is trying to pull what Huntsman and Herbert did 12 years ago; knock out a sitting governor. Huntsman managed to do it at convention, but Johnson will have to rest his hopes on a primary.

I had assumed that Johnson would force Herbert to a primary, but I assumed Herbert would be far ahead; Johnson being ahead is surprising.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Considering that Utah just voted nearly 70% for Cruz (granted, Caucuses are not primaries, but still, that's YUGE), Herbert is in deep trouble.

[Zioneer]

Considering that Utah just voted nearly 70% for Cruz (granted, Caucuses are not primaries, but still, that's YUGE), Herbert is in deep trouble.

Actually, Herbert endorsed Cruz, but I get what you mean. The convention delegates wanted someone more conservative than Herbert.

[smoltchanov]

It's a sort of axiom that conventions and caucuses are dominated by extremists (synonym for "activists"). Democratic - left-wing (here - Sanders victories in most caucuses, even where the state is, as a whole, conservative  (Utah would be good example here too)), Republican - far-right fanatics (i remember Republican convention in Minnesota in 1994, where such "activists" refused to renominate very popular Arne Carlson and choose ultraconservative Allen Quist. Good, that Carlson beat him later in primary...). That's why i am absolutely opposed to them as a mean of selecting candidates - only primary!

[Zioneer]

Oh, and as a side note, Democrats chose Mike Weinholtz, the more progressive choice for governor, at their convention 80-20 over the more moderate Vauhn Cook. Both were businessmen who agreed on a lot of issues, but Weinholtz was more progressive on several key issues.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

With Herbert is Utah still safe R

[Zioneer]

With Herbert is Utah still safe R

The gubernatorial race certainly would be, though I expect the Democrat to do about 5-8% better than in 2012. Senate is also Safe R, with the same caveat. UT-04 is probably toss-up.

[Adam Griffin]

I don't know...if Herbert managed to get 45% at a convention, then I'd imagine he's sitting at or above 50% in a traditional primary. We all know who shows up to conventions.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Johnson actually endorsed Ron Paul in 2012, so I have hope for him should he win.

[Zioneer]

Herbert refers to himself as "Available Jones" in recording, and says he'll always be available for big donors. This is after he had a program of "speed-dating" meetings for his donors.

[Heisenberg]

It's a sort of axiom that conventions and caucuses are dominated by extremists (synonym for "activists"). Democratic - left-wing (here - Sanders victories in most caucuses, even where the state is, as a whole, conservative  (Utah would be good example here too)), Republican - far-right fanatics (i remember Republican convention in Minnesota in 1994, where such "activists" refused to renominate very popular Arne Carlson and choose ultraconservative Allen Quist. Good, that Carlson beat him later in primary...). That's why i am absolutely opposed to them as a mean of selecting candidates - only primary!

I agree. Primaries for the win!