OCR Text |
Show N7 DAILY HEMID Wednesday, November 3. 2004 CONGRESS Utah Delegation 'A- - if ' f" V: 4f 0 ' .1 y t "I . ( s JOSHUA 1 BROWNDaily Herald Two winners Expected to win in this highly Republican state, both Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Chris Cannon, Republicans, won in their respective races handily. In other races. Congressman Rob Bishop and Rep. Jim Matheson also won. The closest any challenger came was in the 2nd District, in which Republican John Swallow was behind 53.3 percent to 44.6 percent as of nddnight. SENATE HOUSE Bennett wins third term in U.S. Senate, 'a time of harvest' Matheson wins against Swallow, again leashed his own TV spots painting Swallow as a party Unexpectedly, a squabble between the state and national GOP over the ads created a somewhat embarrassing sideshow in the last week of campaigning. Both sides pointed fingers at each other for negative mailings in some cases nailing Matheson for voting for Republican initiatives. The Utah Democratic Party has lodged a Federal Election Commission complaint against Swallow's campaign, the state GOP and the National Republican Congressional Committee alleging the parties broke campaign law by not disclosing the NRCC's involvement in the Travis Reed THE ASSOCIATED PRESS U.S. Rep. Jim held a narrow lead late Tuesday, perhaps withstanding a final surge from Republican challenger John bwallow in one of the state's most caustic races. With 44 percent of the vote tallied, Matheson held a 52 percent to 45 percent advantage over Swallow in a rematch of their 2002 election. Swallow lost that contest by less than once percent in a Ryli district. Heading into the election, all eyes were on the Swallow-Matheso- n race one of a handful assigned vast importance by the national parties, which are battling over a sharply divided U.S. House. Swallow said late Tuesday that he wasn't conceding the race and he doubted his campaign would issue a concession until at least Wednesday. He said he would not concede the election just because Matheson had performed an acceptance speech. "We're still guardedly optimistic that we have a chance to win this," "We're still guardedly optimistic." "yes-man- John Swallow challenger, on not conceding early he said. Matheson beamed as the vote totals and projections rolled in still obviously agitated about what had become a bitter campaign. "I'm all about running for this office, and I feel very confident that I'm doing what my constituents want me to do," he said. "This result tonight is a wonderful affirmation of that." Matheson had galloped to a healthy lead in the polls, and the race generally flew under the political radar for several weeks. But negative campaign ads from both sides salting the air and radio waves over the past few weeks have awakened the state to a dogfight. It started with Swallow ads criticizing Matheson as a liberal out of touch with voters in this heavily conservative state, and persisted when Matheson un ." Jill Fellow THE DAILY 53k, Jim . ' Matheson Democrat mailer. The direct mail piece criticizes Matheson for supporting congressional efforts to give tuition at public universities to dependents of illegal aliens who are residents of a state an initiative sponsored by Cannon and Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, of Utah. The two ran on some similar issues. Matheson was concerned ' 45 John Swallow (R) .59 Patrick S.Dtehl(G) -- 1 Jeremy P. Petersen (C) .37 Ronald R. Amos (P) With 462 of 733 precincts reporting with transportation, nuclear waste and education. Swallow focused on education and being fiscally pro-aborti- Cannon captures 5th term in easy victory Amie Rose DAILY HERALD U.S. Rep. Chris rYj r"JJl tfU I -- easily won his fifth term in Con-gress Tuesday night, even after a dose prima- - wUtA can Matt Throckmorton in June. Cannon took an early lead over Democrat Beau Babka, Constitutionalist Ronald Winfield, Libertarian Jim Dexter and Curtis Darrell James, a member of the Personal Choice Party. The 3rd Congressional District extends from eastern Salt Lake County south through Utah County to Beaver County. Cannon was not surprised with his victory. Polls throughout the election season showed Cannon held a comfortable lead. "We looked at it pretty carefully and thought 62 percent would be good, given the nasty primary' Cannon said from the gathering at the Utah County Adniinistration Building. The unknown in the race was how Babka would fare in Salt Lake County, Cannon said. Babka has Salt Lake County run for office in in the past and based his campaign there, and Cannon wasn't head- quartered there. Cannon won the primary with about 60 percent of votes in the 3rd Congressional District over Throckmorton. The primary race revolved around immigration, with national groups targeting Cannon because they said he favored amnesty for illegal imi migrants., There weren't many issues in the campaign against Babka, Cannon said Babka made vague suggestions about wanting universal health insurance in the candidates few debates, but that didn't become an issue for voters. Babka said his biggest accomplishment in the race was being able to connect with people in the district. He said now that the race is over he's going to clear his head and get some sleep. "I think we fought a great fight," he said. "We've really done a lot in ' eight months." Cannon was first elected to office in 1996, winning the office back from Democrat Bill Ortoa He said doesn't know how many more terms he'll seek in Congress, but will sajlihe'll stay in office as long as hes effective. "Thire are things that are very important to me," he said. f. Although Babka and many of his . ifellerwfSemocrats lost Tuesday ' night, the mood at the state Democratic Party's gathering was energetic, with a band playing and clown making balloon animals. Now that Cannon's won another term, he plans on focusing on makInternet service availing low-coable to everyone, without taxes. "We need to solve the problem of taxing sales over the Internet," he 1 Cannon Republican 33 2 Cannon wiU also focus his energy on better funding cancer research. Cancer research is close to Canhis daughter is now non's heart battling cancer, He calls the current system for funding cancer research "abom- Correspondent Harlow Clark contributed to this story. p.m. "Now in my third term it is a time of harvest," he said.- "It is a time when I can take advantage of the alliances IVe - 1 Jl - i UtnUMt(D) Ronald WtnflcMfQ wDf fc CurtbO. James (P) With 249 Of 543 precincts reporting Robert F. Bennett forged, the friendships I have made and the experiences I have gained." Bennett ran for his first Senate term in 1992, winning over Democrat Wayne Owens. He won again in 1998, with 64 percent of the vote, and he has said that this might be his last term. "My wife made me promise not to say never," he said. "Let's just deal with this one and see what happens." This year Bennett ran against Democrat Paul Van Dam, a former Utah Attorney General, and three third-partcandidates Gary Van Horn, of the Constitution Party, Joe Labonte of the Personal Choice Party and Cody Judy, a Democrat who ran as a write-i- n candidate. In an election night speech, Van Dam told Democrats to keep fighting for elected offices in Utah. "Democrats in this state Republican 27.5 R. Paul Van Dam (D) 2 Gary R. Van Horn (C) K Joe LaBonte (P) With 1,055 of 1.912 precincts reporting have got to be tough," he said. "They have got to hold on because, if nothing more, we have to keep Utah a democracy." Bennett's most recent actions as a senator were in August when he introduced legislation to prevent the resumption of nuclear testing without approval by the Congress, extensive environmental and safety analysis and open public involvement. "We must not jeopardize the health and safety of our citizens as we work to pro- tect our national security," he -- said. HOUSE Chris said. He's already been talking to people on congressional committees about funding problems. In the first of many acceptance speeches Tuesday night at Republican headquarters at the Hilton Hotel in Salt Lake, Utah's Sea Bob Bennett accepted his win for a third term in the U.S. Senate around 9 6& st inable," HERALD Bishop wins again, handily Congressman Rob Bishop won the 1st District race easily, taking 71 Rob Bishop of nearly three-fourtthe vote with almost half of the precincts reporting just after mid- night. Democratic challenger Steve Thomp- son took 26 percent of the vote, Charles Johnston is at 2 percent and Richard W. Soderberg came in with 1 percent. Republican hs ;i 26 Steve Thompson (D) 2Charle Johnston (C) KUchard W. i Sodarbtrg (P) With 306 of 638 precincts reporting i ' 'i ii ! |