Enthusiastic for Matheson
Republicans Rob Bishop, with 63%, and Orrin Hatch (62%) won higher percentages of the vote than did Democrat Jim Matheson (59%), but Matheson’s supporters were apparently more enthusiastic about him.
Among the trivia collected by the Utah College Exit Poll was this tidbit: Some 48% of Matheson voters said they voted for him enthusiastically. Orrin Hatch was next highest with a 36% enthusiastic vote. Chris Cannon was lowest, with only 25% voting for him enthusiastically.
The College Exit Poll engages 1,000 students from several colleges across the state to gather voluminous data about voters and their voting habits. It was started in 1982 by BYU’s David Magleby. With so many years of exit polling and asking many of the same questions, the poll data now show a lot of trends, tracking voter behavior over 24 years. An attempt is being made to put all the data from all the years on-line so researchers can access it.
More Exit Polling Trivia
Percentage of Republican vote won by Matheson:
2000 (in old district): 27%
2002 (in new reapportioned district in close race): 20%
2004: 34%
2006: 36%
U.S. Economy: Solid Growth
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf Economic Update this week notes that while the U.S. economy has slowed a bit in recent months, it continues to grow at a reasonable pace. “Economists who have been forecasting imminent U.S. recession took one in the chops,” Thredgold said. “October job gains came in slightly weaker-than-expected, with a rise of 92,000 net new jobs. HOWEVER, job gains of the two prior months were revised dramatically higher! August’s reported gain of 188,000 net new jobs was revised to a strong 230,000 rise, while September’s initially-reported (and puny) 51,000 net employment rise was TRIPLED to 148,000 net new jobs!” Meanwhile, the unemployment rate of 4.4% is the lowest in more than five years.
Tea’ser
“If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?” (Source: Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf Update)
Taxpayers Association Newsletter
The Utah Taxpayers Association has posted its November newsletter. This month's edition looks at Utah's statewide property tax revenues and features a column by Association President Howard Stephenson on the need for "a tax system for the 21st Century."
Low-Income Health Care
In response to the efforts of Gov. Huntsman's task force to extend premium subsidies to uninsured workers this holiday season, the Sutherland Institute reiterates its view "that private solutions work best in providing charitable care for low income Utahns." (see press release).
Sierra Club Newsletter
Here's a belated link to the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club's Fall 2006 newsletter, which features articles on regional transit, the die-off of tiger salamanders in the Wasatch, and environmental restoration at Hill Air Force Base.
Blog Watch
The Senate Site blog posts the new Utah Senate roster for the 57th Legislature, and notes that Sen. Tom Hatch has resigned... Democracy for Utah says: "It's very difficult to beat an incumbent member of Congress -- even with [Tuesday's] Blue Wave of 2006, most incumbents kept their seats. Pete Ashdown, Christian Burridge, and Steve Olsen knew they would be fighting an uphill battle in their races, but they ran anyway. And while the outcome of those races was never really in doubt, their candidacies paved the way for future races. All three men helped get the Democratic message out to voters and showed Utahns that Democrats are intelligent, reasonable, trustworthy, and, most importantly, share their values" (see also here, here, here, here, here, here, and here)... Shirl LeBaron offers some "post elections reflections"... Paul Rolly says: "Some members of the local news media dropped the ball on covering a last-minute smear campaign in this year's Salt Lake County Sheriff's election. Memo to the news media: It is OK to view suspicious accusations coming from a public official with a skeptical eye. In fact, you should do that"... At Out of Context, Thomas Burr reports: "It was one of those moments [Tuesday] night at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee victory party in Washington. The energized crowd was watching every race closely, monitoring the eventual Democratic smack down, according to one of our spies. CNN was playing, and at one point the anchor signaled one of those moments everyone was waiting for. 'We have a new Senate campaign to call,' the announcer said. The crowd was expecting Montana, maybe Missouri or Ohio -- one of the closely contested races this year. People were hushed waiting for the name, bracing to cheer. And then CNN called the race for Orrin Hatch. And everyone went back to their drinks."
Local Watch
UAC Positions Statements
In preparation for its Annual Convention next week, the Utah Association of Counties has posted its 2007 Proposed Position Statements. To read them, click here.
Washington Watch
Reactions to Rumsfeld Resignation
Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson react to the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld (see Hatch, Bennett, and Matheson press releases).
Bennett Ally of New Minority Leader?
Article notes Sen. Bennett's support for close friend Mitch McConnell, who will likely become Senate minority leader (Associated Press).
Regional Politics
Dems Control Colorado
Article: "Colorado voters appeared poised to hand Democrats a historic victory Tuesday, giving the party control of the Governor's Mansion, both chambers of the legislature and a majority of the state's congressional delegation for the first time since Dwight D. Eisenhower was in the White House. ... 'Colorado really now gets most-favored-nation status among Democrats and the model to win the West,' said national Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh" (Denver Post). |
