OCR Text |
Show The Salt Lake Tribune Republicans Rattled From Complacency Spencer Stokes Democrats Hope To Make Most Of a HeadStart “Democrats need to be mobilizing Democrats,” he said. Hecautioned that such a drive should only be mounted by county-level Democrats, because an organized effort by top-level @ Continued from C-1 leaders mightbackfire. forces scrambled to put out a bro- chure his stand on such conservative issues as tax cuts, abstinence-based education and deregulation of utilities. But the Formerdirectorof the state Republican Party, on the rowdiness at last week’s convention aera “T couldn't believe how many people came up to me at church on Sunday and asked, ‘What’s going Whatiis going on depends, asalways, on whom youask. Stokessees the raucous caucusing and anti-incumbent sentiment as proof of a gradual takeover of the Republican convention by hard-core conservatives. Those and Tuesday, May 9, 2000 placate them by touting his endorsement by the National Rifle Association. Stunned by his poor showing in the first of three ballots, Leavitt “Tt was s pisdarvelishal Iwas horrified by it.” @ Continued from C-1 special-interest UTAH single-issue activists who are getting elected delegates do notreflect the broad base of the mainstream, claimed Stokes, who helped runthefailed campaign of Cook challenger Jeff Wright. “T consider myself a right-wing conservative. This was a militant right wing,” he said. Stokes predicted establishment Republicans will do finein the primaryand general elections. But he said long-term damage from the convention antics will show up as moderate Republicans become wary of participating in the early political process in future elec- tions. It could keep people away from neighborhood caucuses and conventions, as well as scare qualified individuals from running as candidates for elected office, he speculated. “People will say, ‘Why on earth would I want fo run?’ ”said Stokes. about the decision that I made and House Speaker Marty Stephens, T'm notlooking back.” Even though Leavitt faces a primary election, Stephens said R-Farr West, doesn’t buy the theory that the Utah GOP has been hijacked by the rabidright. He acknowledged a “general unrest”at the convention and condemned behavior by some that was “inappropriate.” But, “unlike the Democrats, we don’t overregulate things,” Stephenssaid. “Welet people protest or scream or do whatever they wantto.” That aside, Stephens said he was surprised by the strong antiLeavitt vote, although he declined to speculateon its causes. It was just last winter that Stephens was contemplating challenging Leavitt as the banner carrier for conservative legislators and others discontent with the two-term incumbent. After suggesting thatit was possible to wrest the nomination from Leavitt at convention, the dissidents abandoned the coup and publicly made up with the governor. Somelegislators attending Sat- urday’s convention wondered aloud whether Stephens was kicking himself for bailing out. “No,” Stephens said Monday. “There’s too much baggage that comeswiththat.I feel comfortable the incumbent appears safe. “Leavitt will win the primary handily,” Stephens predicted. “Mike does draw a lot of independent or Democratic voters. Healways has.” Leavitt's spokeswoman did not return a phone message Monday. But during a KSL radio interview, a weary-sounding governor characterized the convention as a “wake-up call.” Hesaid hestill is trying to figure out the message intended by delegates. On Saturday, holed up with Washington GOPstrategist Eddie Mahefollowing his rough recep- tion but before the vote count, Leavitt put a brave face on what was clearly a painful blow. He described the convention as “a sort of hazingritual that every candidate has to go through.” Leavitt drew taunts last year from convention delegates, but he effort failed to recapture votes, and he finished with 54 percent of the vote, right where he started and short of the 60 percent needed to clinch the nomination. The governor’s camp “was in deep shockatall this deep anger of folks out there,” said Utah State University political scientist Randy Simmons, Buthesaid antiLeavitt sentiment is “much broader than right wing,” and stems from the governor’s failure to take stands on issues. “Do we know whatMikestands for?” No clue, said Bill Orton, the Democratic nominee for governor. “You never know where he stands,” said Orton. “He stands on * squishy ground, on quicksand.. . . Nobody knowswhenthey can trust Mike Leavitt because Mike Leavitt will shift with the sand.” This “squishiness” factor was secondary to the right-wing dissatisfaction with Leavitt at the GOP convention, said Orton. But he predicted it will becomean “enormous” issue in the primary and general election. The Democratis ig onit. Democrats have been plotting for years to increase their numbers in Utah’s elective offices. They have just one statewide post, the attorney general’s. Meanwhile,the GOPclaims all five Utah offices in Congress, 18 of the 29 seats in tHe state Senate and54 of75in the state House ofRepresentatives. It’s not unusual for minority parties to organize their members to vote in the other party’s primary for the weaker candidate. This helps the minority in two ways:it increases the chance their candidate will face the weakerofthe two majority party candidates in the general election and it helps drain the majority party’s resources for the general election. Randy Simmons, .a Utah State University political scientist, said the GOPprimary offers the Democrats a precious opportunity to deepen the obviousfissures among Republicans. And voting for the weaker candidates in the GOP Matthew Burbank, a University of Utah political scientist, said Democrats would do better to emphasize their strong points rather than undermining Republicans. He said they have appealing candidates who can make inroads educating voters about themselves. “Whatthe Democrats have to do particularly in the governor’s race is to get their message out,” said Burbank. That view is shared by Joe Hatch, a party activist and the former leaderof Salt Lake County Pee Pe Cé Democrats. Two years ago he urged Democrats to vote in the GOPprimary,largely to weigh in against right-wing candidates seeking offices without Democratic candidates. “Right now we [Democrats] have really effective, moderate, mainstream ‘candidates so that [voting in the Republican primary] doesn’t makecritical sense,” said Hatch. “I would strongly encourage Democrats to stay outofit this time.” was not up for election that year andthe catéalls were in response to his remarks in favor oflimited, gun-control legislation. Last weekend, the governorwas careful not to say anything offensive to conservatives and attempted to FRONTLINE: RETURN OF THE CZAR Onn 7 Tonight at 9 Ce0R teeeae) Portrait & Picture Frame With $150 or more in same-day Cottonwood Mall purchases We’re Service Pros! Each FREE 8x10 portrait taken by Call US For COOHING SERVICE. Wer. tic Ricemteam*. Good Kiddie Kandids will complementthe 8x10 picture frame. This perfect gift for mom has a total retail value of $32.95! work andfair prices. We'll arrive ontime, in uniform, wearing a photo I.D. and weclean upbeforeleaving. x, Gallius (onthe best in customer care, Cae?a WeWill Impress You. Hl Promise. Affiliated Starting May6th, showyour sameday receipts to the Customer Service Center to pick up your FREEgift Service & Repairinc. set. Nositting fee. Frame selection varies. Limited while supplies last. One gift set per customer Wasatch Front/Park City www.affiliated.rheemteam.net OTTONWOOD MALL Cents Where You'll Always Find the Usual & Unusual ZCMI, JCPenneyand over 130 of yourfavorite stores. Shop Mon.-Sat,10-9, Sun. noon-5. 4835 So. Highland Drive Shopping Line: 278-0416 AJP Realty, Inc. Owned and Managed Property We ServiceAll Brands Proee 1888 RHEEM TEAM PULA Lh Butterfield goes (Ail 400 of them) It wasn't the first time Butterfield Lumberfilled an extra tall order for me. Still, that 70 foot ceiling beam they delivered last June to myBear Lakejobsite was something extra special I like how Butterfield Lumber’s delivery area covers Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada-and Idaho ~ yet, what I reallylike is the way they cover my building nceds, As a professional contractor, I find Butterfield’s selection and service make it well worth the distance - because their way of doing business makes all the difference. \ OITA Tou7g ON SELECT SENCO TOOLS AND COMPRESSORS Building seasonis heating up and it’s the perfect time to replace that worn-out tool or compressor and get 50 Bucks Back direct from SENCO*.Put BUTTERFIELD LUMBER. INC. ee Ralph Kramer Visit us at 7380 S. 700 W., Midvale. www. butterbieldiumber.com cash back into your pocket ‘on the best tools and compressors money can buy. Vel RY MUTT AMaale hy" 7:00 a.m, 5:30 p.m Saturday 7:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m IO -255-4201 A Re T leeeal cee 8x10 |