Posted on 06/30/2006 10:09:53 AM PDT by colorcountry
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Some political observers are wondering whether a Mormon church statement urging members to vote in Tuesday's primary may have boosted turnout and helped five-term incumbent Republican Rep. Chris Cannon turn back challenger John Jacob.
"Between the president and Mrs. Bush's endorsement (of Cannon) and the church's statement from the pulpit -- those were the two biggest factors that helped Cannon in his re-election," said Ron Fox, who helped run Bush's Utah campaign in 2000 and 2004.
"I think the church's desires were to get people to the polls and vote and I think, as a byproduct, it assisted Cannon in his re-election," he told The Salt Lake Tribune.
The turnout in the 3rd District primary was higher than in the 2004 primary.
The race had focused on immigration issues, with businessman Jacob accusing Cannon of supporting President Bush's policies, while Jacob opposed any guest-worker or amnesty programs.
Getting voters to the polls had been considered vital to Cannon's chances to keep his seat.
"Turnout usually favors an incumbent in these kinds of situations because when you expand the election pool you are including voters who are going to take into consideration other factors beside the immigration issue," said Kelly Patterson, a political science professor at Brigham Young University, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Quin Monson, another BYU professor, downplayed the significance of the church letter, which he said contained fairly "standard language." However, it apparently motivated some people.
"A friend called to tell me that she voted specifically because she heard the letter on Sunday," Monson said.
Church spokesman Dale Bills said that to his knowledge, it was the first time church leaders have urged its members to vote in a primary election.
Bills said that church leaders "regularly teach that church members should make their voices heard as individual citizens of their respective nations by exercising their right to vote."
The church leaders said that they were lending their voice at the request of Joe Cannon, chairman of the Utah Republican Party and Chris Cannon's brother, and the Democratic chairman, Wayne Holland.
Todd Taylor, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, said Joe Cannon approached Holland and suggested they make the request to the church, and the Democrats agreed.
"It's hard to quantify the impact" of the church statement, said Jeff Hartley, executive director of the Utah Republican Party.
"Based on the Utah County turnout, which was higher than anyone expected, I believe the president had a significant impact on Republican voters and I believe that the church reminding people from the pulpit had a significant impact on the Republican voters, and I hope our efforts as a party had a significant impact," he said.
Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
JMO, your screen name should be NextDUmmie.
I think the article is referring to Ron Fox, who helped run Bush's Utah campaign in 2000 and 2004. and...
Quin Monson, another BYU professor, downplayed the significance of the church letter, which he said contained fairly "standard language." However, it apparently motivated some people. and possibly...
Todd Taylor, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, said Joe Cannon approached Holland and suggested they make the request to the church, and the Democrats agreed.
I didn't see Bay Buchanan or Tom Tancredo mentioned at all. In fact, you're the only one on the thread that keeps mentioning them at all.
:-) .....to say the least. I like that word! lol
It wasn't a poster that said this or the AP.......read the article...
"Between the president and Mrs. Bush's endorsement (of Cannon) and the church's statement from the pulpit -- those were the two biggest factors that helped Cannon in his re-election," said Ron Fox, who helped run Bush's Utah campaign in 2000 and 2004.
" "I think the church's desires were to get people to the polls and vote and I think, as a byproduct, it assisted Cannon in his re-election," he told The Salt Lake Tribune."
WRONG again Dane.....Do you ever get tired of blaming Tancredo for EVERYTHING ??
the article clearly states these observations are those of a Ron Fox (prolly Vicente's brother)
"said Ron Fox, who helped run Bush's Utah campaign in 2000 and 2004."
Just another "FOX", Dane refuses to lay any blame to (prolly Vicente's brother)
It's just so much easier to blame Tancredo, according to Dane.
No its analysis of exactly what was in play there.
The Bush people didn't want the Buchanan-Tancredo wing of the party to win this one.
Posts were made about all the Bush phone calls, Laura radio ads etc. that went into getting Cannon over the top.
I've seen it here in PA back in 2004 and I am a Republican who votes that way but am not a third party person or a Democrat troll.
Do you support or oppose the illegals coming in? I'm actually in the middle but its downright true that companies like Tyson and Cargill employ them in their meat processing plants. Those companies are big political contributors and the GOP needs their money to win elections.
Money is the mothers milk of politics, you know.
The Democrats see the illegals as voters they want too and the businesses can just as soon pump cash into Democrats
(didn't Tyson help Clinton in Arkansas) as well as Republicans. I think the GOP leaders have a lot of pressure on them to keep the illegals in. They want the big money from those guys too.
"It's Bush'sTancredo's fault."
Hmm and the tancredo/buchanan wing didn't want Bush to win, either.
Oh I forgot it was satan's doing on part of Bush/Cannon that made tancredo/buchanan/Jacob to lose bigtime, nevermind.
I'm actually in the middle >>>>>>>>
Read it & weep......& these are only the top three crimes.
________________________________
Check out the following to see who is the bigger threat to American Citizens today, terrorists or illegals. Feel free to share it.
Over 19,000 Americans have died a violent death at the hands of murderous illegal aliens since 9/11 (12 a day).*
Over 20,000 Americans have died at the hands of uninsured drunk driving illegal aliens since 9/11 (13 a day).*
Over 13,000 American children are the victim of a sex crime at the hands of illegal aliens since 9/11 (8 a day).*
Less than 7,000 Americans have died on 9/11 and after due to terrorism, including those who died fighting terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What is the bigger threat to Americans today, terrorist thugs or illegal aliens?
*Source – “Biting the hand that feeds you”. Written by Congressman Steve King (R, IA) on April 25, 2006. Source link: http://www.kingforcongress.com/clippings/desk-immigration4-06.htm
I think they learned the lesson that politics and religion don't mix many years ago. Wasn't Joe Smith killed on account of political friction? By the local military types?
You and I might say that, but the LDS would say he was killed by an "angry mob."
"It's (Bush's) Tancredo's fault."
and don't forget the IB4D
Thanks for posting the article.
I live here, I voted for Jacobs.
The LDS church only said, 'Get out and vote'. I heard it from the pulpit.
That is a no-brainer.
This only proves the media can spin anything, like we didn't already know that.
I was, but only because I posted the darned thread. It's almost hard to beat the hairtrigger response.
The media (in this article) never, ever said the Church directed ANYONE who to vote for.
This article only said the Church encouraged voters to vote. Or are you reading something I missed?
You're not sour about another's possible sour grapes, RU?
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