Talk Elections

...or not. From the bowels of R2Kos (http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/2/26/121351/842/615/702134):

Robert Bennett (R) - 55
Jim Matheson (D) - 32

Robert Bennett (R) - 57
Ken Jennings (D, apparently) - 21

Aaaand the primary threat:

Robert Bennett (R) - 44
David Leavett (R) - 23

Robert Bennett (R) - 46
Mark Shurtleff (R) - 20

Chat away, Utahns!

I actually joked about Ken Jennings running for Utah officeship after he made his opinion of Bush clear on-air.

That's kind of depressing for the Utah Democratic Party. :P

Those are terrible primary numbers for Bennett this far out, although everyone seems to be interpreting them as a positive. Think about the kind of ground people like Ned Lamont and Pat Toomey made up over the course of their campaigns.

Darn I was hoping we can pick this one up too.

and lol at Ken Jennings...

Markos certainly doesn't need a bailout.  He seems to be doing financially just fine.

LOL. Some of these polls are really funny.

I'd vote for Jennings and I'm not even some Jeopardy geek. That guy was great.

Ken Jennings basically hinted in his book, without mentioning party or names, that the Utah Democratic party made a serious effort at drafting him to run against Hatch and that he refused completely.

I watched the show almost everyday for three years and no one has even come close to Jennings' record.  That guy was amazing.

Jennings lives in Washington now.

It seems insane that Bennett is drawing this much of a challenge in a primary so far out.  I can't thing of a single issue where he isn't in lockstep with the citizens of this state.  Maybe the flag-burning amendment, but that's pretty far off the radar right now.  I can't imagine what he has done to piss off republicans.

Leavitt seems like a perennial nobody.  It seems strange that Shurtleff would consider a challenge.  Shurtleff has been a competent AG, and seems to be a pretty decent guy.  An article in the Salt Lake Tribune today said that he is having discussions with his family about the race at this point.  I'd probably take Shurtleff as a senator over Bennett, but it won't ever get that point.  Bennett will be the republican nominee, and he will win the general election in 2010.

Ok so now he has to challenge Murray in either the primary or switch registration and run in the General.  :)

I had to look up Jennings. I had forgotten who he was. So he's a Democrat? How do we know this?

Because he's smart duh

According to wikipedia:
As reported by The Salt Lake Tribune and other sources[5], Jennings is a member of the Democratic Party, which some feel runs against the grain of the cultural leanings of many members of his church.

...but according to Harry Reid:
He stated in an interview with Brigham Young University's Daily Universe that "I think it is much easier to be a good member of the Church and a Democrat than a good member of the Church and a Republican." He went on to say that the Democrats' emphasis on helping others, as opposed to what he considers Republican dogma to the contrary, is the reason he's a Democrat.

The issue that is causing problems is Immigration. Especially with Mexico collapsing and the Cartels recruiting Illegals within the US, this will be the issue in many primary campaigns and it could work even against an incumbent like Bennet.