Salt Lake Crawler

Remember when Utah used to pride itself on being the clean-politics state? No mudslinging or back-East "ward" politics here.

Of course, it was never true — except that ward politics has a different meaning in Utah. But Mark Shurtleff and Bob Bennett seem to be conspiring to rub voters' noses in that cherished bit of Utah innocence. On top of all the shenanigans they are pulling on each other—both have well-funded campaigns employing military levels of secrecy as to what they are up to and where their money is going.

Bennett refuses to disclose the names or pay certain staff members; it's even a mystery what the senator's son and campaign spokesman, Jim Bennett makes. Shurtleff hides all his spending from view.

Dave Levinthal, spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics, says while legal, such secrecy should make voters suspicious.

"While it appears candidates on the federal level can do this, the question is 'should they?' It definitely limits the amount of information people can find out about how this campaign is being run."

The most damaging part about The Tribune's story might be the photographs of Bennett and Shurtleff.

Shurtleff, who is trying to run to the far political right of Bennett, is shown waving a flag other than Old Glory (it appears to be the shah-era Iranian flag). And folksy Bob is shown pondering big thoughts with his chin in his hand— OMG, look at that diamond ring! We haven't seen a rock that big on a man's hand since Liberace last played Vegas.