News Highlights

National immigration-restriction group airs ads targeting Rep. Chris Cannon (Morning News), and with two weeks to go, Cannon and John Jacob put more money into 3rd District race and both may air TV ads (Morning News).

Gov. Huntsman visits Utah National Guard troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border (Deseret Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune).

Hot state Senate race in Sandy features House/Senate intrigue (Tribune).

Utahns volunteer their time more than the residents of any other state, according to national report released Monday (Morning News and Standard-Examiner).

Quote of the Day

“You can't reason with a stone."

-- Robert Redford, who owns a ski resort in the mountains of Utah, criticizing the Bush administration’s environmental policies at a conference of liberal activists (Tribune).

Blog Watch

Rep. Steve Urquhart has a long, detailed post about Medicaid dental funding... At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Michael Waddoups discusses choice and transparency in health care: "We would serve our constituents well to promote a healthcare system where more choices are made by the patients whose lives and health are at stake -- rather than the insurance company, hospitals, and employers"... was interviewed yesterday by the BBC about "Wikipolitics" and Pete Ashdown's Senate campaign (see also here)... Jeremy's Jeremiad endorses Rob Miller for Davis County Commission Seat A... Phil Windley expresses some concern about Utah's new electronic voting machines (see also here and here)... The Plank has a series of posts about Sen. Orrin Hatch, Mormon euphemisms, and the proposed gay marriage ban (for background, see here, here, here, here, and here).

-- Compiled by Golden Webb

UTA Paratransit Meetings

The Utah Transit Authority is hosting a series of town meetings about its paratransit services. For more info, click here.

Campaign Tip

Make Your Message Matter to Everyday Voters
By Joe Garecht
Often, as I am watching a political ad or reading a campaign mailer, I find myself analyzing the quality of the work: Does the headline get my attention?  How are the pictures?  Does the speaker look sincere?  What about the text... is the piece easy to read? All of these things matter, and a good television ad or an effective direct mail piece will address each of these items in turn.

The most important part of any piece of political communication, however, whether it is on TV, the radio, or sent through the mail, is the message: the overall theme of the piece.  What topic or
issue do we most want the voter to come away with?  While those of us in the political business may analyze and re-analyze the political pieces we get in the mail or the ads we hear on the
radio, everyday voters only look at your piece for a few seconds.... What is the message they come away with?

So often, the central theme of a campaign mail piece or TV ad is what I call an "impotent issue."  Usually, the creative process for a piece goes like this: The campaign has its list of issues that
the candidate wants to talk about.  The campaign staff designs a mailer for each one (or TV ad, or newspaper ad...).  The first mailer gets sent out to the voters, then the second, then the third.

What's missing in this picture?  Do you see what happened?  In most campaigns, the staff designs ads based on what the candidate (or the campaign manager, or a big donor) thinks is important.  This is a mistake.  The campaign shouldn't be worrying about what the staff thinks is important to the voters, it should be worrying about what the voters think is important to the voters. 

Of course, big campaigns like congressional races or statewide office-seekers can afford to take polls, then design ads based around that research.  (Of course, candidates should never use
polling to change their views on various issues.  Instead, the campaign should use polling to figure out which issues to highlight, based on those areas in which the electorate sees eye to eye with the candidate and feels passionate about the issue).

Smaller campaigns, on the other hand, can't afford this luxury. Instead, they have to rely on anecdotal evidence and volunteer poll operations to determine the mood of the electorate.  Small
campaigns should be mindful, though, that there are some issues which sway elections (potent issues) and some which don't (impotent issues).

Let me give you an example.  Over the past campaign cycle, I saw many, many ads by candidates in our local area touting their position on medical malpractice reform (currently a hot topic in a number of states).  These candidates had worked hard on the issue, as elected officials, doctors, attorneys, etc.  Thus, their campaigns produced ads highlighting the candidates' work and position on this issue.

Big mistake.  While there are people who care passionately about medical malpractice reform, the number is very limited (generally, the only groups who get emotional over this issue are doctors and trial lawyers).  For most people, medical malpractice reform is not a potent issue.  It doesn't "grab" them... it doesn't sway their vote.  Campaigns need to highlight issues on which voters can get passionate, emotional, and which define their values... these are the issues that sway everyday voters.  These are the potent issues.

What issues most often get voters excited?  Which issues truly sway votes?  The following are, generally speaking, the most potent issues (in no particular order):

- Money and Jobs: Does my family have enough money for the things we need and/or want?
- Security: Is my family safe?  Are my kids safe?
- Kids: Are my kids going to get ahead?  Are they being well educated?  Will they have a better life than me?
- Patriotism and Freedom: Is America safe?  Is America headed in the right direction?  Am I as free as I want to be?  Civil rights.
- Personal Values & God

No matter what office you are running for, from President of the United States down to the local school board, your campaign needs to appeal to one of these basic issues in order to make your message matter to everyday voters.  There is no candidate at any level who can't fit his or her issues into one or more of these messages.

For more information on designing a communications strategy for your campaign, check out these free articles available at Local Victory: Political Success on the Internet; Designing Effective Political Signs; Planning Your Campaign's Kick-Off Event.

Wise Words

"Our government has no power except that granted it by the people. It is time to check and reverse the growth of government, which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed. It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the Federal establishment and to demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the Federal Government and those reserved to the States or to the people. All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government. Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it's not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work—work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it."

—Ronald Reagan  (Source: The Federalist Patriot)

Elected Officials Birthday List

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Utah in the National News

Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney’s innovative fundraising techniques are making big news: Romney is tapping fellow Mormons in Utah and Arizona for funding and support as he gears up for a likely '08 presidential bid (Associated Press); Romney is employing "a novel, multistate fundraising operation that is allowing him to maximize legal donations, outflank top Republican competitors, and minimize public scrutiny" (Boston Globe); Mass. Democrats criticize Romney's out-of-state fundraising excursions, saying he's neglecting his gubernatorial duties (Boston Herald).

Group of Idaho downwinders rally to put a permanent stop to the proposed Divine Strake bomb test at the Nevada Test Site, which was originally scheduled for June but has since been indefinitely delayed (Idaho Statesman).

Utahns volunteer more often and give more of their time than do volunteers in any another state, according to new report (Associated Press, Knight Ridder, and MarketWatch).

Utah said to be on the leading edge of interoperable government communications for disaster preparedness (Washington Technology).

Oklahoma governor signs into law legislation similar to Utah Rep. David Hogue's proposed "games as porn" bill, which would have made it a felony to knowingly exhibit or sell violent video games to minors (Gamasutra).

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Guv visits border

- Utah ranks No. 1 in U.S. in voluntarism

- Flag debate may be superseded

- Luring teachers — Utah working to train and keep quality educators

- Jacob, Cannon pour cash into race

- PAC's radio ads rip congressman

- Financing for Real — Sandy finds way to make stadium funding work

- 81% support UVSC quest

- User errors could hold up line at polls

- Salt Lake County seeking more staffing

- Utahn keeps watch over Jack Anderson papers

- State to accept financial help for dental fund

- NPS pulling out of Salt Lake City

- Firms to maintain Utah hiring spree

- U. business dean sets talk on USTAR initiative

- Utah Technology Council names 2 to Hall of Fame

- Marjorie Cortez: State Medicaid panel faces tough balancing act

- Editorial: Leonardo must make do

Standard-Examiner

- Service that binds

- N. Ogden wants commercial growth

St. George Spectrum

- Hurricane officials visit East Coast on developer's tab

- Early voting to begin in Washington County

- Voters get first chance to make digital mark

- Editorial: Legislature needs to mandate a base preschool curriculum

Daily Herald

- Utah is No. 1 in service to others

- Violent crime in Provo up 17 percent

- Democratic party adopts a new platform

- Editorial: Wrong solution for porn problem

KSL Editorial Board

- Downtown Rising

Logan Herald Journal

- USU building $13 million engineering lab

KCPW

- KCPW 3rd congressional district primary debate

- Voices from Utah's 3rd congressional district

- Immigration group begins radio attack ads

- Undocumented workers in John Jacob's closet?

- Reshaping Medicaid to save $

Salt Lake Tribune

- Plea to feds seeks end to hospital contracting

- Violent crime up; Utah is no exception

- Candidate says past has made him vigilant

- Migrant detentions dip as Guard arrives

- North Salt Lake weighs changing its name

- Hot primary race erupts in Sandy

- Account set up for dental-care donors

- Demo platform has familiar ring

- Redford: Bush offers no guidance to greens

- Honesty the best policy? Couple facing deportation after 16 years in the U.S.

- Sorry, Tennessee: Utah is the real volunteer state

- Jury will begin debating Abramoff pal's fate today

- NPS to halve its work force, lease out much of its campus

- SLC hones Bonneville bench strategy

- Hurricane city officials accepted developer-paid junket to the East

- Colorado justices stall immigrant measure

- SLC Council pens shopping list for RDA budget

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- June 11-13: Gov. Huntsman to attend Western Governors Association, Sedona, AZ
- June 12-16: Huntsman Seminar in Constitutional Government for Teachers, Hinckley Institute of Politics, University of Utah. For more information click here.
- June 13: Green Party candidate for Utah's Second Congressional District Bob Brister to speak at the Mount Olympus Senior Center, 11:30 a.m., 1635 E. Murray-Holladay Road, Salt Lake City.
- June 13: GrassRoots luncheon to honor select legislators, 12 p.m., The Encore Grille Restaurant, 2080 West North Temple, Salt Lake City. Join with the GrassRoots Board of Directors and Paul Mero to recognize the legislators who excelled in the 2006 GrassRoots Legislative Report. Cost is $16 per person. Please RSVP by June 9 to Don Guymon at 801-574-9461, donguymon@yahoo.com or Bill Barton at 801-978-3363, bbarton@xmission.com.
- June 13: Utah Bloggers Conference, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Larry Miller Center for Entrepreneurship, 9750 S 300 W, Sandy. Free admission, food, and advice. Question/answer session with a panel of Utah bloggers from 7:00 - 7:45. Currently confirmed members of the panel include Phil Windley, Phil Burns, Tim Stay, and Cydni Tetro. For more information visit www.utahbloggers.com.
- June 14: Medicaid Interim Committee, 8 a.m., room W135.
- June 14: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak at Dark Mountain Western States Energy Assurance Exercise, 8 a.m., Salt Palace, Salt Lake City.
- June 14: Green Party candidate for Utah's Second Congressional District Bob Brister to speak at the Midvale Senior Center, 10:30 a.m., 350 W. Park Street. Midvale.
- June 14: Gov. Huntsman to attend Veteran's of Foreign Wars: Flag Day Celebration, 11 a.m., Newgate Mall, 36th Street & Wall Avenue, Ogden.
- June 14: Lt. Gov. Herbert to address the Five County Association of Governments, 1 p.m., Kanab County Court House, 76 North Main, Kanab.
- June 14: Gov. Huntsman to give speech at Boys' State, 1:15 p.m., Weber State University.
- June 14: Legislative Management Committee--Subcommittee on Oversight, 2 p.m., room W140.
- June 14: Gov. Huntsman to attend Army Birthday Celebration, 7 p.m., Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City.
- June 15: Presentation on the recently adopted Massachusetts Health Plan by Cyndi Gillespie, counselor to Governor Mitt Romney, 3 p.m., State Office Building Auditorium. All interested parties are invited to attend.
- June 15: Gov. Huntsman to attend Nacho Libre Screening, 6 p.m., Megaplex at the Gateway.
- June 15: Davis County Democrats Planning Committee meeting, 7 p.m., Davis County Courthouse, Commission Chambers, 28 East State Street, Farmington. George Mortimer, candidate for Utah Representative District # 18, will speak on Utah issues. All Davis Democrats are urged to attend. The general public is also invited.
- June 16: Gov. Huntsman to attend UTA Commuter Rail Event, 1:30 p.m., Burke Lane Interchange near Legacy Highway & Commuter Rail Construction, Farmington.
- June 16: Natural Resource Extraction Impact Working Group meeting, 12 p.m., West Building, Room 135.
- June 16: Gov. Huntsman to attend Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Gala, 6:45 p.m., The Salt Palace Convention Center, Grand Ballroom, Salt Lake City.
- June 17: Green Party Honk 'n' Wave for Peace "U.S. Out of Iraq, Now," featuring Bob Brister, Green Candidate for Utah's 2nd Congressional District, 9 to 10 a.m., NW corner, intersection of 700 E and 2100 S, Salt Lake City. For more information see www.bristerforcongress.org.
- June 17: Northern Utah Women's Democratic Club meeting, 11:30 a.m., Union Grill, 2501 Wall Ave, Ogden.
- June 17: Fathers for Justice annual Fathers Day Potluck Picnic , 1 to 5 p.m., Lester Park, directly east of the Weber County library on 25th and Madison Avenue, Ogden. The picnic is open to the public and all parents, with or without their children, are invited. For more information visit www.mf4j.org.
- June 17: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 pm, Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium.
- June 18: John Jacob interview with Rod Decker on KUTV Channel 2, 10 to 10:30 a.m.
- June 19: Lt. Gov. Herbert to take tour of the Dugway Proving Ground, 9 a.m.
- June 19: Candidates for 3rd District Chris Cannon and John Jacob to attend KCPW Radio Debate, 7 p.m., Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 E 400 S, Salt Lake City.
- June 20: Executive Appropriations Committee, 9 a.m., room W135.

- See the entire calendar