Utah senator pleads with GOP to keep his job (Amazing!)

I don't think it says squat about Idaho. This has been brewing all spring and is a function of the curious method Utah Republicans go about picking their candidate. The tea baggers have been gaming that system for months just like the Ronulans made a vainglorious attempts to become precinct captains here. The most they've been able to accomplish is the high esteem they achieved by getting Norm Semanko directing the party. Big woo. In fact I'd say they're copying Idaho rather than the other way around. Its good news on its face cause it appears to be splitting the party. But one thing that joins them together again is their hatred for Democrats.

The play for Bennett is to go indy. Ironic, but isn't that the play? And while that may be good for a Democrat, I doubt even Walt Minnick could win a three way in Utah.

The Utah fight is all in the primaries. There are so many Repubs in Utah that the state has a double strainer system to thin the candidate herd. There is a primary like Idaho's, but it thins the herd down to 3 candidates, and a later run-off primary is held to settle the final candidate.

As Sis said, this situation is perfect for not only the baggers but all the independents.Idaho's Repubs pale in comparison to Utah's, where RINO hunts have been carried on for years. The one constant is the winning candidate has always had proper LDS bonafides in his family tree, including Bennett.

But this time, even those don't seem to be enough for Bennett.
Utah is much more like Nevada than Idaho- the Salt Lake City metroplex is very much like Las Vegas- it has all the population, and those folks are a lot more educated and are truly urban. South of Provo, the rest of the state is a hell of a lot like the deserts of Nevada- lots of tiny towns that haven't grown very much and are perpetually locked in 1959. Part of southern Utah is cut off from the rest of the state by the Grand Canyon. These guys don't want anything to do with the 21st century, period.

I tend to think that if Bennett did go indy, he might win in the general if he has the SLC votes. His loss would sure run against the grain of the church.
It's going to be interesting, for sure- Utah is the real pressure cooker of Repub insider politics.

When Obama selected Huntsman and took him out of the equation, it threw the whole scene in Utah on it's head, for sure. Huntsman was by far the most popular politician in the state.

And in an emotional, tearful way he exited gracefully. Maybe there's an independent run in the cards, but whatever the reaction...back to Atwater Rule #1.

Message to Utahans and the USA (esp Arizona): "we just cannot allow any reasonable people"

Bennett can't run as an independent. He needed a declaration and 1000 signatures submitted in March to do so. All he can do now is run as a write-in.

It was pretty amazing. I thought that Mitt Romney's appearance for Bennett would turn the tables- Mitt is loved in Utah- but even Mitt made no difference. Did the entire state just join Thelma and Louise as the car headed for the edge of the canyon?

Sssh. Don't interrupt their death wish.