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With less than a year away from the Utah GOP nominating convention, this baby is starting to heat up on all sides. Today a poll released showed Matheson and Hatch deadlocked at 47% in a hypothetical race. This assumes a lot, most importantly that Hatch will receive the party nomination. Though there has yet to be an official challenge mounted, rumors abound. The two names most often mentioned are Rep. Chaffetz and Dan Liljenquist.
Chaffetz is in his second term in Congress and has shown himself to be quite adept at playing the press. As for legislative accomplishment, he's so fresh in his congressional career that it's hard to make sound judgment. Though it doesn't speak well of him that he is best known for sleeping on a cot and leg-wrestling Steven Colbert than for any policy positions.
Liljenquist is an up and coming Senator in the Utah State Senate. A member of the well-known Idaho Falls Liljenquist clan, he has around 16 or 17 siblings. Though he's only 37, he has had quite a successful career thus far. Chicago Law, Bain, ACS, and CEO of Focus Communications. Elected in 2008 he's only been a face on the Utah political scene for a few years, but has become well-known for his efforts to reform the public employee pension program and state hiring practices.
And then we have OGH. Elected in 1976, he's in line to become the Finance Committee chairman if the GOP wrests control from the Dems. If Lugar loses his re-election in Indiana, he would also become President Pro-Temp (a position with little real power). He is and has been one of the most influential players in DC, but there is much unrest at home. Many Utahns have been caught up in the anti-incumbent fervor and seek to dispatch him, stat.
This would leave the state with two freshman senators, a situation not seen since he served with Jake Garn. In this case it could potentially put the state in a much worse position. Consider the following: Jim Matheson is the most senior member of Utah's three rep delegation, having been elected in 2000. Rob Bishop is second, having been elected in 2002. Utah will also be receiving a new congressional seat as a result of the recent census (Thanks, FM & DDD!). If Matheson and Chaffetz both run for the Senate seat and one of them wins, that would make Bishop the only returning member of the Utah congressional delegation. Two freshmen senators and three freshman representatives. It would be a rough decade for those Utahns who are used to strong DC support.
As a strong OGH supporter, I'm sure I'll be pissed off more than once in the next year and will likely curse the Eagle Forum/Tea Party types. Still though, it will be fun to watch. I think if he can get past the convention, it will be relatively smooth sailing from there. But that convention is going to be a real bitch.
Chaffetz is in his second term in Congress and has shown himself to be quite adept at playing the press. As for legislative accomplishment, he's so fresh in his congressional career that it's hard to make sound judgment. Though it doesn't speak well of him that he is best known for sleeping on a cot and leg-wrestling Steven Colbert than for any policy positions.
Liljenquist is an up and coming Senator in the Utah State Senate. A member of the well-known Idaho Falls Liljenquist clan, he has around 16 or 17 siblings. Though he's only 37, he has had quite a successful career thus far. Chicago Law, Bain, ACS, and CEO of Focus Communications. Elected in 2008 he's only been a face on the Utah political scene for a few years, but has become well-known for his efforts to reform the public employee pension program and state hiring practices.
And then we have OGH. Elected in 1976, he's in line to become the Finance Committee chairman if the GOP wrests control from the Dems. If Lugar loses his re-election in Indiana, he would also become President Pro-Temp (a position with little real power). He is and has been one of the most influential players in DC, but there is much unrest at home. Many Utahns have been caught up in the anti-incumbent fervor and seek to dispatch him, stat.
This would leave the state with two freshman senators, a situation not seen since he served with Jake Garn. In this case it could potentially put the state in a much worse position. Consider the following: Jim Matheson is the most senior member of Utah's three rep delegation, having been elected in 2000. Rob Bishop is second, having been elected in 2002. Utah will also be receiving a new congressional seat as a result of the recent census (Thanks, FM & DDD!). If Matheson and Chaffetz both run for the Senate seat and one of them wins, that would make Bishop the only returning member of the Utah congressional delegation. Two freshmen senators and three freshman representatives. It would be a rough decade for those Utahns who are used to strong DC support.
As a strong OGH supporter, I'm sure I'll be pissed off more than once in the next year and will likely curse the Eagle Forum/Tea Party types. Still though, it will be fun to watch. I think if he can get past the convention, it will be relatively smooth sailing from there. But that convention is going to be a real bitch.
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