Cannon Facing Challengers This Weekend

May 09, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

When Republicans meet at Utah Valley State College tomorrow for their state convention, they'll be deciding whether to send incumbent 3rd District Congressman Chris Cannon back to Washington. Cannon says he knows people want change in Washington, and his message to delegates is: help him accomplish that change, instead of making him part of it.

"My job is to tell them that they shouldn't be unhappy with me, because I'm doing the right stuff and moving government in the right direction, and that we need more people like me in Washington to vote," he said.

Cannon is running for his seventh term. His campaign was recently endorsed by President Bush.

One of his four Republican challengers is Jason Chaffetz, Governor Jon Huntsman's former chief of staff. He says President Bush's endorsement of Cannon shows the incumbent is getting nervous.

"Hey, what a great honor!" said Chaffetz. "The idea that the six-term incumbent is afraid of enough of this race and what we're doing as a challenger that the President of the United States has to step in and endorse him, pre-convention. That's never happened before. I told my wife, hey let's get a photocopy of that letter, because obviously Mr. Cannon's a bit afraid of what we're doing on the Chaffetz campaign."

Chaffetz compares himself to Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, saying he doesn't have the most money or name recognition, but that's not going to stop him.  Another challenger is former Juab County prosecutor David Leavitt, brother of former governor Mike Leavitt.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom and Election 2008. Copyright 2008 KCPW