Posted on 08/17/2005 5:23:21 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
The list of potential challengers includes Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s chief of staff, Jason Chaffetz; state Rep. LaVar Christensen of Draper, and Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard. KSL radio talk show host Doug Wright also isn't ruling out a bid.
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
The race is starting to look hopeful.
Bush got 66% in Jim Matheson's district in 2004, so in theory any Republican with a pulse should be able to beat Matheson. Heck, Matheson isn't even a conservative Democrat, for crying out loud! The abortion issue alone should be enough to get him defeated in 2006. The trick is for the GOP to avoid a fatricidal primary in which the sour-grapes losers don't lift a finger to help defeat Matheson in November.
I think the only thing, besides the harsh GOP primaries, that saves Matheson is his last name. The Matheson family is well known in Utah, although it was not enough for another Matheson to beat Huntsman for the governor's race.
Maybe the GOP will rally behind a single concensus candidate before the nominating convention. I think that Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard has great potential, based on what I know about him.
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