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News Highlights
Dueling gubernatorial race polls: Deseret
Morning News has Jon Huntsman up by 9 over Scott
Matheson, while a Matheson poll shows the race dead even. An
older Tribune
poll
has Huntsman up by 16 points.
County party dumps Nancy Workman, but she stays
in the race (Morning
News and Tribune).
A look at write-in campaigns in Utah (Morning
News). Ellis Ivory in the race (Tribune).
Workman statement (Tribune).
Weber State University students comment on vice-presidential
debate (Standard-Examiner).
Quote of the Day
"It is time for us, the elected representatives of this nation
of immigrants, to begin the process that can result in removing
this artificial, outdated, unnecessary and unfair barrier. This
restriction has become an anachronism that is decidedly un-American."
-- Sen. Orrin Hatch during hearing Tuesday on his proposal
to eliminate the constitutional barrier on immigrants running for
president. The amendment would benefit California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger. (Salt
Lake Tribune)
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Wednesday
Buzz
Compiled
and Written by LaVarr Webb |
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Vice Presidential Debate
I thought Dick Cheney did very well during the first part
of the debate on foreign policy and the war in Iraq, while John
Edwards made a comeback on domestic policy. I don’t think the
debate will change a lot of minds. I wish, as a partisan, that both
Cheney and George Bush would have pointed out that it’s easy
to criticize, to second-guess, to play Monday morning quarterback,
and have all the right answers -- in hindsight. But Bush didn’t
have that luxury. He was on the firing line and had to make tough
decisions and for the most part he made the right ones. It’s also
easy to make big promise after big promise on every government program
known to man, as Edwards did last night. It’s much harder to carry
them out in the real political world.
County Race Hits Zenith of Craziness
Luckily, the county mayoral race just can’t get any crazier than
it is right now. A four-way race is probably to Peter Corroon’s
benefit. Ellis Ivory is going to have to mount one of the
best campaigns in Utah history to have a chance of success. Why
would Nancy Workman stay in the race, especially if she doesn’t
plan to run an active campaign? That’s hard to fathom. Is she standing
up for principle, or being selfish? Is she a stalwart, or a spoiler?
Is she courageous or foolish? She doesn’t want to be a quitter,
but sometimes quitting is the right thing to do, especially if you’re
not going to stand and fight. She will not be remembered well in
history if she, in the words of Council member Joe Hatch, “burns
the house down as she leaves.” Workman staying in the race probably
costs Ivory several points and a possible victory.
Presidential Race Status
Here’s how National Journal’s Charlie Cook sizes
up the presidential race right now. (To sign up for his column,
go
here.)
“The bottom line is that this race is now even, with Bush clearly ahead in 24 states with a presumed 208 electoral votes, 62 short of the 270 needed to win. Kerry is clearly ahead in 12 states with a presumed 168 electoral votes, but he has four more that are leaning his way: Maine (4), Michigan (17), Oregon (7) and Washington (11), bringing his total up to 207 (none are just leaning to Bush). That leaves, for the moment at least, 11 states with 113 electoral votes as toss ups: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin.”
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| Communications Tip |
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Winning the Spin
In any political campaign or legislative fight, it’s not enough
to be right on the issues and perform well in debates and speeches.
It’s also important to “win the spin” by creating a favorable “buzz”
for your effort or candidate. After every major political event
there will be discussion and debate over who won and how well the
players performed. Much of the “buzz” or “spin” is determined by
how the news media report on the story, what the columnists say
about the event, what is discussed on talk radio and in blogs and
e-mail newsletters like this one. So performing well is only half
the battle. Controlling the spin is the other half. In high-stakes
events like a presidential debate, the professional spinmeisters
really go after it. It’s almost as important as the debate itself.
A great example of the lengths to which the candidates and parties
go is the e-mail message below sent out Tuesday by Bush-Cheney,
forwarded by Spencer Jenkins, Utah GOP executive director.
It provides some great insights and suggestions on winning the spin.
From: Campaign Manager Ken Mehlman
To: Bush-Cheney ’04 National Email List
Subject: Fight the Spin—Spread the Truth! Dear Friend:
The debate tonight presents a tremendous opportunity for the campaign
to attract undecided voters, but people’s perceptions are shaped
as much by their conversations around the water cooler as by the
debates themselves.
The Vice President's goal is to do what he's been doing throughout
this election: explain to the American people why the President's
policies are right for America and the world we live in today -
in fighting the war on terror, in keeping our economy growing and
in responding to the new challenges of the 21st century.
After last week’s debate, the Kerry campaign spin machine managed
to mask their candidate’s flip-flops on the war in Iraq, imposition
of a “global test” for protecting America, and repeated denigration
of our troops and allies.
If we plan to win the election, we must fight back against their
spin and make sure our friends and neighbors get the truth.
We need your help tonight!
- Visit Bush
Debate Facts tonight during the debate so you will have the
facts. Print and share them with your friends.
- Immediately after the debate, visit online polls, chat rooms,
and discussion boards and make your voice heard. The major news
networks will all have internet polls after the debate. Make sure
you vote in polls on:
- Make sure swing state voters know why you support the President
by sharing your thoughts on message
boards in target states.
- Call
Talk Radio shows in your area
- Write letters
to the editors of your local papers.
- Visit Chat rooms on AOL, MSN,
and Yahoo!
- Send this message to 5 friends using the form at the bottom
of this page.
Beyond tonight, you should return to these forums in the coming
days and make your voice heard and your support for the President
known.
If someone asks you a question about the President, direct them
to the campaign’s website, www.GeorgeWBush.com.
It has lots of information on the President’s Agenda for America
(www.GeorgeWBush.com/Agenda)
and the President’s record of accomplishment (www.GeorgeWBush.com/Record).
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| Elected
Officials Birthdays |
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Rep Ben C Ferry, District 2, Oct 11
Rep Gregory H Hughes, District 51, Oct 13
Sen Gregory S Bell, District 22, Oct 16
Rep Michael E Noel, District 73, Oct 17
Sen Curtis S Bramble, District 16, Oct 18
Rep Ann W Hardy, District 20, Oct 18
Rep Greg J Curtis, District 49, Oct 18
Entire
Birthday List
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Wednesday
October 6, 2004
| Please submit calendar items
to AgendaUtah@UtahPolicy.com
- Oct 6: Jim Matheson and Mark Shurtleff attend Meet the
Candidate event at the Sandy Senior Center at 11 am.
- Oct 6: Attorney General Candidates debate, 6-8 pm, Dixie
State College, Dunford Auditorium, TV KCSG 4, Radio KDXU 890 AM.
- Oct 6: Mark Shurtleff and Jon Huntsman will attend Meet
the Candidate Night at Tooele HS, 6:30 pm.
- Oct 6: Utah Stonewall Democrats monthly meeting,
5:30 pm, GLBTCCU, 359 N 300 W.
- Oct 6: Utah Land Use Institute, 8:30 am – 4:30
pm, Red Lion downtown, SLC, register 801-731-5399.
- Oct 7: Mark Shurtleff will attend Meet the Candidate events:
Riverton Senior Center at 11 am, North Ogden Kiwanis Club at 6:30
pm, Skyline HS PTA at 7 pm.
- Oct 7: Progressive Democratic Caucus Meeting,
6:30 pm to 8 pm, 455 South 300 East, Suite 102, Salt Lake City.
Contact: Craig Axford (801) 918-6017.
- Oct 8: Second presidential debate, 7 pm. Moderator: Charles
Gibson
- Oct 8: Jenny Wilson for County Council Fundraiser,
silent art auction and performance by Kurt Bestor, 5 pm, Alta Club,
100 E So. Termple, SLC, RSVP 801-521-3766, $50.
- Oct 9: Davis County Democrats No-Host Breakfast,
8:30 am to 10 am, Joanie's Restaurant, 286 North 400 West, Kaysville.
Contact: Richard Watson (801) 292-6772.
- Oct 9: Mark Shurtleff at Utah County GOP Women's Fundraiser,
5 pm, Provo Marriott. 801-910-9463.
- Oct 9: Peter Corroon walks precincts in the East Benches.
801-328-2208.
- Oct 11: Utah Foundation & Hinckley Institute of Politics
lecture on Utah‘s Economy-The Challenges and Benefits of Growth,
Noon, U of U Spencer Hall Rm 255. Free to Public. Also broadcast
on KUER-FM 90.1.
- Oct 11: Meet the Cache County and School Board Candidates
Night, 7-9 pm, Whittier Community Center, 290 N. 400 E, Logan. Sponsored
by the League of Women Voters and the PTA.
- Oct 11-16: Steve Thompson for Congress Neighborhood Walk
in Weber County. Call 435-753-3979 to schedule a visit.
- Oct 12: Open Forum with the Gubernatorial Candidates,
7:30 pm, New Davis Conference Center in Layton, 801-510-1221.
- Oct 13: Gubernatorial Debate, KSL Radio 1160
with Doug Wright, 10 am, KSL studios.
- Oct 13: Third presidential debate, 7 pm. Moderator: Bob
Schieffer
- Oct 14: Sutherland Institute seminar "Ethical
Fitness--Being an Authentic Leader," 8:30-11:30 am, 6th Floor 150
E Social Hall Ave, SLC. Register: 801-355-1272.
- Oct 14: Mark Shurtleff speaks at the Minority Community
Event, 9 am, SLC. 801-910-9463.
- Oct 16: Peter Corroon will walk the precincts in Midvale
and WVC. 801-328-2208.
- Oct 17: Civic Dialogue presents a moderated debate on the
Open Space Initiative, 5:30 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 18: Jon Huntsman Jr. at Tooele Valley Rotary Club luncheon,
12 pm, Best Western Inn Tooele.
- Oct 18: Gubernatorial Debate, KUTV Take Two with
Rod Decker, 6:30 pm, airs live outside KUTV studios on Main Street.
- Oct 19: Gubernatorial Debate at Salt Lake Rotary Club,
12 noon, Marriott Hotel 75 S W Temple, SLC.
- Oct 19: First District Candidates Rob Bishop and Steve
Thompson debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 20: Salt Lake Chamber’s Business Friendly Legislators
Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Little America
- Oct 20: Attorney General Candidates debate, 12:30 pm, Sutherland
Moot Court Room, S.J. Quinney College of Law, Univ. of Utah.
- Oct 20: Mark Shurtleff holds Meet the Candidate Night,
6 pm, Brigham City. 801-910-9463.
- Oct 21: Mark Shurleff at PTA Legislative Forum, 1-2 pm,
Hollywood Conn.
- Oct 21: Gubernatorial Debate, On the Record with
ABC 4 News Reporter Chris Vanocur, 7 pm.
- Oct 24: Civic Dialogue presents Salt Lake County Mayoral
Race Debate, 5:30 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 24: Third District Candidates Chris Cannon and Beau
Babka debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 25: Utah Foundation & Hinckley Institute of Politics
lecture on Education-The Debate Over School Choice and Tuition Tax
Credits, Noon, U of U Spencer Hall Rm 255. Free to Public. Also
broadcast on KUER-FM 90.1.
- Oct 25: Gubernatorial Debate, KSL-TV, KSL Radio
and the Deseret Morning News, Rose Wagner Theatre, 7 pm.
- Oct 25: Meet the State and National Candidates Night, 7-9
pm, Whittier Community Center, 290 N. 400 E, Logan. Sponsored by
the League of Women Voters and the PTA.
- Oct 26: Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors, 7:30 a.m.,
Chamber Board Room, featuring candidates Jon Huntsman, Nancy Workman,
Mark Shurtleff
- Oct 26: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly
Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South,
Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
- Oct 26: Utah Attorney General Candidates debate, 7 pm,
KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 28: Second District Candidates Jim Matheson and John
Swallow debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 28-29: UEA Convention.
- Oct 29: Gubernatorial Debate, KUED Studios, 7
pm, U of U, airs Nov. 1.
- Oct 31: Civic Dialogue presents a moderated debate on the
Utah Constitutional Revision of Marriage, 5 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 31: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam
scheduled to debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
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