Chaffetz leads on first ballot in 3rd District
By Robert Gehrke
Jason Chaffetz emerged as the leader in early balloting at today's Utah Republican Convention, propelled by a fiery speech before more than a thousand state delegates who will determine the Republican nominee for the 3rd Congressional District.
Chaffetz received 469 votes on the first ballot (46 percent), with six-term incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon with 338 votes (33 percent) and David Leavitt with 220 (21 percent).
Those three advance to a second round of balloting this afternoon, with a potential third round if no candidate gets 60 percent of the vote.
Chaffetz dished out heaping portions of red meat to the delegates, calling for the repeal of No Child Left Behind, dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education, strong immigration enforcement with no earned citizenship, and entitlement reform to stop the country from "sliding toward socialism."
He also took a shot at his former boss, the governor.
"Jon Huntsman, as much as I like you, you're wrong on global warming. It's a farce," said Chaffetz, Huntsman's former chief of staff, to applause.
Candidates Stone Fonua and Joe Ferguson were eliminated on the first ballot.
Both Leavitt and Cannon opened with glossy presentations, Cannon's featuring endorsements from Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett and a letter from President Bush.
Leavitt's showed him encouraging a fireman not to give up hope, and images of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and flooded streets in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina with Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." playing.
"America's promise is in danger of fading away," Leavitt said. "Our's is the duty to restore America's promise."
1:41 PM
| 
3 Comments:
Global warming is a farce?!? Oh boy, the Republicans really have such a grand bunch to choose from! Can't we find a way for them all to lose?
Yes global warming is a farce. But we can debate that another time.
Chaffetz speach really was good. It reminded me of Nolan Karas' speach four years ago, that nearly propelled him into the governorship
Yeah, there's a way for them all to lose. Its caled elect your own candidate, idiot! "You gotta prove yur idear's better'n arz." Unfortunately for you, none of your candidates can stand up to Chaffetz! Global warming is a farce, and anyone who knows this isn't a moron, he just dosen't swallow everything the dems or the GOP are haning out. You sound like a sheep to me andrew. A sheep who jumps in fright any time something rattles the fence. So, who ended up winning the nomination anyway?
Post a Comment
<< Home