Bob Lonsberry, of Talk Radio KNRS (Salt Lake), reported this morning that Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff will be the Utah Campaign manager for Arizona Senator John McCain's presidential campaign. This is the second pick-up of a prominent Utah Republican for McCain - the first being the States Governor Jon Huntsman.
What's the deal with Mormon politicians aligning themselves with John McCain over Mitt Romney?
I think two things may be in play. The first is that Utah is a very conservative state. Many politicians here are aware of Mitt Romneys' 1994 senate race against Edward Kennedy. Then Mitt came across as a much more moderate Republican than he portrays himself now; but running against Kennedy in Massachusetts is going to do that. After his stint guiding the Salt Lake Winter Games, there was speculation that Mitt might run for Governor of Utah. Two things probably held him back, the first is Utah isn’t a prominent stage to run a national Presidential bid. The second is he might not have been conservative enough to win.
This brings us to the second aspect of McCain’s support. McCain certainly is not a conservative, the McCain-Feingold Law being exhibit number one. But there seems to be a move by some Mormon politicians to not want to be seen running as part of a ‘Mormon Bloc’. McCain may be the only palatable next choice to avoid that perception. These Mormon endorsements of McCain may actually be good for Mitt in the long run as it diminishes the perception across the nation that Mitt is the Mormon’s candidate.
Posted by Dave Calder on December 8, 2006 7:33 AM
| Permalink
Comments (2)
Hmmm. Not consevative enough to win?
How to explain Mike Leavitt and Jon Huntsman Jr. then? While both are nominally conservative, its pretty much in the same vein as Mitt Romney.
I suspect that Utah is less conservative than it might appear. The Republican party apparatus is dominated by the right wing, but on average I suspect that Utahns are generally center-right.
Part of the problem is the left's tendancy to call everything right of Che Guevara "wing nut". Utahn's have been caricatured.
I doubt Romney ever seriously considered running for governor in Utah, but if he had, I think the fact he isn't local, rather than his ideological temperature, would have been the deciding factor.
I think you are probably right about the wariness of Utah politicians being too closely associated with the church, particularly if they have national ambitions (which Shurtleff almost certainly does...)Lots of guys are position themselves for a run at Hatch's senate seat when he finally decides to hang it up (soon I hope...).
Its rather interesting to consider the implication that Utah politicians may consider Romney "too closely" associated with the church, since many of them have even more impressive Mormon dynastic connections.
The reality is that its important for McCain to get Mormon endorsements. Meanwhile Mitt Romney will likely get Jeb Bush's endorsement, which frankly I think it the better one...
Posted by Mick Stockinger | December 8, 2006 9:40 AM
Posted on December 8, 2006 09:40
I agree that Mitt Romney as Governor has shown himself to be similar to Leavett and Huntsman (maybe even more conservative with his high profile stands regarding gay marriage) but in 2002 he didn't have that record. Then, what stuck out in my mind was his 1994 campaign of "not going to upset the apple cart on abortion". A political necessity in Massachusetts perhaps, but a deal killer for a Republican in Utah. Don't forget Mayor Rocky Anderson's endorsement of Mitt. Rocky may have felt he owed him for pulling Salt Lake's butt out of the fire but he also may of thought Mitt had moderate tendencies.
Based on Governor Romney’s term I am quite impressed. His commitment to winning the war on terrorism will be key to me.
I've followed John McCain since the Keating five days and I have been under whelmed (and greatly disappointed at times). However if Mitt balks on the war on terror, I'll hold my nose and go with McCain.
Posted by Dave Calder | December 8, 2006 12:00 PM
Posted on December 8, 2006 12:00