News Highlights

Straw poll of Salt Lake County Council gives TRAX light rail expansion a good chance to be on the ballot this fall (Salt Lake Tribune). But Deseret Morning News story says affirmative vote not likely.

New tax cut/tax reform plans are being suggested by key legislators and a tax reform special session is still possible (Deseret Morning News).

Gov. Huntsman meets with Navajo Nation leaders in Window Rock, Arizona -- the first such visit ever by a Utah governor (Morning News).

Rep. Jim Matheson is enjoying the benefits of incumbency, gathering national headlines as he gears up for his re-election campaign (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

“Utah's Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett are among those who have wisely declined to extend their pro-life sympathies to an absurdist level by extending federal protection to microscopic clusters of cells.”

-- Salt Lake Tribune editorial urging a favorable Senate vote today on Hatch’s stem cell legislation.

Romney Winning – in Number of Internet Sites

The race for the presidency is played out on many fronts, and in 2008 the Internet will be a major battleground. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is well ahead of other prospective candidates in one interesting category -- the number of Web sites dedicated to his candidacy.

The Web site OvalOffice2008.com (scroll down) keeps track of Web sites supporting 2008 presidential candidates, and it lists 41 sites supporting Romney, well ahead of the 27 for Condolezza Rice. The top Democrat is Sen. Russ Feingold, with 28 sites, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton with 23. The frontrunning Republican, Sen. John McCain, only has 11 sites. The Romney campaign is planning a very sophisticated Internet strategy.

Huntsman Speaks at TNC Event

The Nature Conservancy kicks off the public phase of its Living Lands & Water campaign today at a special Salt Lake Rotary Club luncheon in Little America Hotel. Gov. Jon Huntsman will deliver the keynote address, and a study by the Oquirrh Institute will be released highlighting the impacts Utah's growth is having on the state's natural lands. The campaign goal is to raise $43 million over four years, mostly from private sources, which would make it the largest conservation campaign in Utah's history. 

The Nature Conservancy preserves nature for people, not from them. Its efforts constitute an investment in our economy and quality of life. Projects are guided by Utah's first "conservation blueprint," a science-based plan to protect biodiversity on an unprecedented scale. 

I serve on The Nature Conservancy’s Utah volunteer board, and I’ve learned that TNC is a very impressive organization. It honors private property rights, uses the free market to achieve conservation goals, and protects land only on a willing seller/willing buyer basis. It does not file lawsuits or engage in harsh rhetoric, and it keeps protected land on tax rolls. The Living Lands & Water campaign is worthy of support.

Blog Watch

Rep. Steve Urquhart, in response to this op-ed by the Trib's George Pyle, says: "Sunday George wrote that he googled my blog and that I had bribed the editorial board, but then he clarified that he didn't actually google my blog and that I hadn't bribed the editorial board. George can lecture all he wants about those lofty journalistic ethics, but that's pretty weird and inappropriate. Was that a shot across my bow for questioning the editorial board's wisdom, a failed attempt at humor, or just the product of a tight deadline? Whatever it is, it's awfully weird ... [T]o slop out base generalities about an entire community and then malign a representative of that commnity with criminal intent when it is invited to learn more about the community is small. The next time the Trib's editorial board dusts off one of its hackneyed pieces on allegedly shallow and thuggish behavior (by the Legislature), I'll have to remember that it has some expertise in the area" (see also here)... Phil Windley, in response to this post by congressional candidate Steve Olsen on politics and religious faith, says: "I consider myself moderately conservative. I'm a Republican. But as I read Olsen's piece, I couldn't help but think that the leadership of the LDS Church exhorts members to 'prayerfully consider candidates' at almost every election. I have to confess, that I don't think I've put as much honest prayer into political candidates as I have other areas of my life. In fact, I've probably assumed I knew best on that issue and stuck to my own counsel. What about you? If you're the praying type, do you honestly consider all candidates with an open mind, make a selection and then go to the Lord in prayer about your choice? If so, good for you. If not, maybe it's time you joined me in a little repentance"... The Revealer analyzes recent media coverage of Mass. Gov. and likely '08 presidential candidate Mitt Romney's Mormonism, and concludes that Romney "may stand more of a chance with evangelicals than we think."

-- Compiled by Golden Webb

Washington Watch

The Hatch Report

Sen. Orrin Hatch says of lifting the ban on federally funded embryonic stem cell research: "Every year we delay is another year we're not getting to find a cure. It's very difficult to justify abandoning 7,000 to 20,000 in-vitro eggs as medical waste" (Chicago Tribune); Hatch says of the upcoming Senate debate on his proposed stem cell research legislation: "Let's put it this way, it's going to be close. There's a lot of maneuvering on the side, a lot of the pressure from the White House to deprive us of the votes. But I think we are going to be able to secure it" (United Press International and WebMD); Hatch says of White House opposition to federally funded stem cell research: "I think [Pres. Bush] has gotten some advice from the beginning from his advisers, and he knows that not to stick with that advice just means a lot of extra criticism. I have high hopes that down the road, we'll be able to convince him that he's on the wrong side of this issue" (New York Times); article takes a somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at Hatch's side career as a songwriter and lyricist (New York Times); Hatch says it would be difficult for the U.S. to intervene in the conflict between Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah: "This is a very dangerous situation that has to be handled very [carefully]. With the strong opposition that the president is fighting right now, we would have the will but not the [public] support" (Associated Press).

Bennett Visits New Orleans

Sen. Bob Bennett tours New Orleans to inspect the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina (Times-Picayune).

Young People & Science

Here’s another view on how to get young people excited about science and technology so they will be prepared to take all those jobs that USTAR is going to create. Check out the article by Jeff Vanek published last month in Connect magazine.

Campaign Tip

Craft a Winning Message

By Joe Garecht
(Reprinted with permission from LocalVictory.com)
No campaign is strong without a good plan, and no plan is strong without a good message. Message is what drives the campaign plan; it sets the parameters in which the strategy is devised.

It is important to know the difference between message and strategy, because they are often confused. Message answers the question "Why am I running for office?" while strategy answers the questions "How am I going to win?" In order to devise the strategy, the campaign must first plan its message. It must decide what it wants to say, before it decides how it is going to say it.

1. Demographically Speaking
The first step in devising the campaign message is to find out the demographics of the district the candidate is running in. This can usually be done by reviewing census data, voting records, and other public documents. The demographic survey attempts to find out who the voters are. During this step, the campaign should learn everything it can about the makeup of the district, including age, gender, race, occupation, home ownership, union membership, party registration, voter turnout, and any other statistic which will be useful for the campaign.

The campaign must also create an issues outline for the district. This profile answers the questions, "What do the voters care about? What issues are they interested in, and where do they stand on those issues?" This profile is usually created through the use of a benchmark poll, a large poll conducted before the campaign starts telling the candidate where the voters already stand. This poll should be done by a professional pollster, if possible, but can adequately be performed by the campaign staff and well-trained volunteers.

2. Divide and Conquer
The next step for the campaign is to break the voters in the district down into useful categories. This categorization should start with large groupings (the district is 45% Republican, 30% Democratic, and 25% Independent) and drill down through increasingly more defined categories (the district contains 12% Republican women over 55.)

The campaign should use the benchmark poll to attach issues to these groups. For instance, the poll may have shown that the large majority of Republican women over 55 are most concerned with the quality of education in the district. Armed with the demographic data showing who the voters are, and the issues data showing what the voters care about, the campaign can begin to draw a clear picture of the district.

3. Build your Coalition
After categorizing the voters, the campaign should look at its own strengths and weaknesses to decide what coalition of voters it needs to utilize to win the campaign. The campaign should be able to figure out approximately how many votes it needs to win, and thus should decide what percent of the voters in each of the categories it created above it needs to win in order to be victorious.

The campaign should be realistic in looking at what percentages it can reasonably capture. If the candidate is a Republican male who is strongly pro-life, he cannot reasonably assume that he will win 80% of the Democratic women who are strongly pro-choice.

4. Craft Your Message
The campaign must then use the demographic and issues data it has gathered to determine what its message should be. The candidate need not change what he or she believes in order to come into line with the general electorate, but should use the polling data to determine which issues to accentuate, and which to play down. The candidate needs to watch out for weaknesses while strongly emphasizing those issues likely to garner the necessary percentage of votes.

The campaign message must succinctly but compellingly answer the question "Why should the voters vote for me?" This message should be narrow enough that it is clear, yet broad enough that several issues can be drawn from it and used throughout the course of the campaign.

Thus, the campaign's message may center on the candidate's strong record on education, and be verbalized as: "Marianne Williams should be elected to the city council because of her strong record on education. She has served on the local school board and has had three children go through the local school system. The district is facing a teacher shortage and declining test scores, and the voters are ready for a change. By putting together a coalition of strong Republican voters, Republicans worried about education, and Democratic women, Marianne Williams will win election to the city council." (Note that the campaign message is not the same as the campaign slogan, and is not intended for the press or the voters to see, but for the campaign to use internally. The slogan in this hypothetical race might be "Better Schools for a Brighter Future")

After crafting the message, the campaign can then draw several issues off of the message to use throughout the campaign (e.g. school choice, teacher pay, standardized testing, etc.) These individual issues can be communicated to the voters through direct mail, television and radio advertising, speeches and campaign literature.

Conclusion
The campaign must have a strong message that targets the voters of the district. Through polling, categorization of the voters, and coalition building, the campaign can craft the message it needs to communicate, culminating in a win on election day.

SUWA: Oppose Washington Co. Growth Plan

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is urging its members to voice their opposition to the Washington Co. growth plan drafted by Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson, which was introduced in the House and Senate last week. For more info, click here.

Utah in the National News

Article looks at the Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency's efforts to raise funds in the muni market to complete its $300 million to $400 million fiber optic network between 14 cities (Reuters).

Sandy, Orem, and Layton make MONEY Magazine's Best Places list; the Utah cities are ranked 23rd, 38th, and 41st out of a list of 90 cities (see press release).

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

- TRAX is on track to arrive on ballot

- RSL still silent on newest tax offer

- Summit's Democratic chief dismisses call to quit

- Hatch pledges to 'keep pressing' for stem cell bill

- Matheson gets nationwide attention at right time

- Moab area spared new energy corridors

- Governor's panel opposes shock ads designed to battle meth use

- Navajo council addresses race issue

- Editorial: Stem cell decoys: Hatch's bill is the one that would help

Standard-Examiner

- Junction construction revs up

- Bountiful says no to beer license

- Editorial: On the tracks

St. George Spectrum

- Editorial: Evaluate donation process

KCPW

- SL County Council in hotseat again -- this time it's TRAX

- Sen. Bennett visits NOLA, supports money for rebuilding

- Utah lawmaker asks Congress to reject NCLB

Deseret Morning News

- Utah GOP leaders push tax cut plans

- Huntsman visits Navajo leaders

- Utah County developers offer a deal for Real S.L.

- County may derail TRAX bond plan

- New code cuts sites for adult business

- Bennett finally sees devastation

- City may alter open-records ordinance

- 3 Utah cities among 'Best Places to Live'

Elected Officials Birthday List

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- July 17-19: Lt. Gov. Herbert to attend the National Lieutenant Governor's Association Conference, Seattle, Washington.
- July 18: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on KCPW 88.3 FM features a conversation with Senator Orrin Hatch on the stem cell debate raging this week in the US Senate; State Rep. Margaret Dayton on No Child Left Behind; and Ibrahim Karawan, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Utah, on the armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. Send questions and comments to midday@kcpw.org.
- July 18: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: "Israel, Hezbollah and a Region in Chaos," 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Doug Fabrizio is joined by local Middle East experts Ibrahim Karawan of the University of Utah, Joshua Aaronson - Rabbi for Temple Har Shalom in Park City, and BYU's Donna Lee Bowan who will look at what the conflict means, and at the choices that Israelis, Palestinians and both parties' supporters face in the region.
- July 18: Gov. Huntsman to give speech at Nature Conservancy, 1 p.m., Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City.
- July 18: Executive Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m., room W135.
- July 18: Legislative Management Committee, 3 p.m., room W135.
- July 18: Gov. Huntsman to give welcome at US-ASEAN Conference, 5:30 p.m., Governor's Board Room and attend US-ASEAN State Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Governor's Mansion.
- July 18: Utah House Republican Caucus Annual Bowler's Ball Fundraiser, meet and greet at 6 p.m., bowling at 7 p.m., Shepherd’s All Star Lanes, 1776 W. 7800 South, West Jordan. Prizes for best team score and best dressed bowling team. Four-team sponsorship is $1,250; individual tickets, $400. RSVP to Mary Blase by July 12 at 801-318-6307 or bowling@alexanders.com.
- July 19: Legislative meetings throughout day, see legislative calendar for details.
- July 19: Gov. Huntsman to give speech at US-ASEAN Business Council Conference, 8:30 a.m., Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City.
- July 19: "Meet and Greet" the eight Democratic Candidates, or their representatives, for the 2006 General Election in Washington County, 6 p.m., Springdale Town Hall, 118 Lion Blvd., Springdale. Sponsored by the Washington County Democratic Executive Committee. Open to the Public.
- July 19: LaVar Christensen for Congress campaign presents "Rock the House" featuring the Stars of the Broadway hit "Beatlemania," 7 p.m., Dixie State Cox Auditorium in St. George. Call 801-572-9878 for ticket reservations or email info@lavarforcongress.com.
- July 20: Transportation, Environmental Quality, and National Guard Appropriations Subcommittee, 9 a.m., DOT Region 2 conference room, 2010 S 2760 W, Salt Lake City.
- July 20: LaVar Christensen for Congress campaign presents "Rock the House" featuring the Stars of the Broadway hit "Beatlemania," 7 p.m., Sandy City amphitheater. Governor Huntsman will make a guest appearance on keyboards. Call 801-572-9878 for ticket reservations or email info@lavarforcongress.com.
- July 20: Davis County Democrats Planning Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., Commission Chambers, Davis County Courthouse, 28 East State Street, Farmington. All Davis Democrats are urged to attend.  The general public is also invited.
- July 21: Gov. Huntsman Davis Co. School District Visit, 4 p.m., Farmington.
- July 21: Gov. Huntsman to attend 2006 Bountiful Handcart Days Parade, 6 p.m., Bountiful.
- July 21: Desert Greens Party of Utah Summer Recycling and Utah Food Bank Campaign, 5:30 to 9 p.m., 2144 South Highland Drive, Sugarhouse. For more information see www.gput.org/events.shtml.
- July 22: Pete Ashdown speaking at 7 Year Anniversary Show at Kilby Court, 7 p.m., 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West). $5 cover charge. Visit www.kilbycourt.com for more information.
- July 24: Lt. Gov. Herbert to participate in the Days of '47 Parade, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Salt Lake City.
- July 25: Lt. Gov. Herbert to address the Bear River Association of Governments, 1 p.m., Garden City.
- July 27: Downtown Alliance and Salt Lake Chamber "Downtown Connection / Business After Hours" networking social event, 5 to 7 p.m., Panache Restaurant, Second Floor of the Wells Fargo Center, 299 S. Main Street. Cost is $12 for Chamber members and Downtown Alliance businesses. For more information and to register, visit the Salt Lake Chamber's website or call Jackie Sexton at 801-328-5053.
- July 27: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party Meeting, 7 p.m., Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, 3977 Wasatch Blvd., Holladay.
- July 28: Desert Greens Party of Utah Summer Recycling and Utah Food Bank Campaign, 5:30 to 9 p.m., 2144 South Highland Drive, Sugarhouse. For more information see www.gput.org/events.shtml.
- July 28: Town Hall Meeting on Climate Change, 6:30 p.m., City Library Auditorium, 210 E 400 S, Salt Lake City. Presentation by Mayor Rocky Anderson on climate change and maintaining our quality of life. All members of the community are invited. An open public forum will follow.
- July 29: Utah Democratic Family Reunion, 12 p.m., Washington Park (located just east of the Mountain Dell Golf Course). Democrats from all over Utah are invited to bring the whole family to this event where there will be games, food and an opportunity to get to know one another better.
- July 31: Medicaid Interim Committee, 8:30 a.m., room W135.
- Aug 3: G.O.Pen Golf Tournament, 1 p.m. registration, Thanksgiving Point, Lehi. Followed by the annual GOP Summer BBQ at 6 p.m. with Gov. Jon Huntsman. For more info contact Abby Balfour at 801-533-9777 or abby@UTGOP.org.
- Aug 4: Water Issues Task Force, 9 a.m., room W135.
- Aug 4: Closing the Achievement Gap for Hispanic Youth presentation by Barbara Lovejoy, Director of the nonprofit Generación Floreciente, 12 to 1:30 p.m., Lamb's Café, 169 S. Main, Salt Lake.  For more information or to register contact Barbara at 801-466-1117 or bclovejoy@msn.com.  Cost $25.
- Aug 4: Desert Greens Party of Utah Summer Recycling and Utah Food Bank Campaign, 5:30 to 9 p.m., 2144 South Highland Drive, Sugarhouse. For more information see www.gput.org/events.shtml.
- Aug 5: 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.
- Aug 7-8: Legislative Site Visits, Uintah Basin.
- Aug 10-11: Utah Rural Summit, Haze Hunter Conference Center, Southern Utah University, Cedar City. For more information see https://utahreach.org/urs/.
- Aug 11: Desert Greens Party of Utah Summer Recycling and Utah Food Bank Campaign, 5:30 to 9 p.m., 2144 South Highland Drive, Sugarhouse. For more information see www.gput.org/events.shtml.
- Aug 12: First Annual Davis Republicans vs. Davis Democrats Softball Game, 11 a.m., Ellison Park, 700 N 2200 W, Layton (just south of Swan Lakes Golf Course).
- Aug 18: Desert Greens Party of Utah Summer Recycling and Utah Food Bank Campaign, 5:30 to 9 p.m., 2144 South Highland Drive, Sugarhouse. For more information see www.gput.org/events.shtml.
- Aug 19: 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.
- Aug 23: Sandy Chamber of Commerce Candidate Luncheon with Congressman Jim Matheson, 12 p.m., Spaghetti Mama, Jordan Commons, 9400 South State Street, Sandy. Major sponsor is Steve Creamer, President and CEO of Energy Solutions. Cost is $20 per person.
- Aug 24: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party Meeting, 7 p.m., Grecian Garden, 4816 South State Street, Murray.
- Aug 25: Desert Greens Party of Utah Summer Recycling and Utah Food Bank Campaign, 5:30 to 9 p.m., 2144 South Highland Drive, Sugarhouse. For more information see www.gput.org/events.shtml.
- Aug 31: Water Issues Task Force, 9 a.m., room W125.
- Sept 2: 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.
- Sept 6: Special Districts Subcommittee of the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, 9 a.m., room W125.
- Sept 7: Salute to Hometown Military Heroes of Davis & Weber Counties, 5:30 p.m. VIP reception and silent auction, 7 p.m. dinner and program, Davis Conference Center Ballroom, Layton. For more information see www.hometownmilitaryheroes.com.
- Sept 9: Cache County Democrats Annual Picnic, 5 p.m., Wilson Park, Logan.
- Sept 13-15: Utah League of Cities and Towns Annual Convention, Salt Lake Sheraton City Centre, Salt Lake City.
- Sept 15: Salt Lake County Republican Party Constitution Day Picnic
- Sept 20: Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, 2 p.m., room W025.
- Sept 28: Annual Golf Tournament hosted by the Senate Majority, sign-in at 6:30 a.m., shotgun start at 7:30 a.m., Thanksgiving Point. For reservations call Ric Cantrell at 801-673-1603 or Kaci Ogier at 801-268-4747.

- See the entire calendar

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