Obama Gets Aggressive in Utah
Among Democratic presidential candidates, Barack Obama appears to be well ahead in Utah, and Obama is the first to hire staff and open a campaign office in the state. In the latest statewide poll 42% of Utah Democrats supported Obama, with 18% for John Edwards and 16% for Hillary Clinton.
“The West is emerging as a key battleground for democrats and a strong opportunity for Barack Obama. We plan to play aggressively in Utah by investing in staff, offices and time leading up to the Feb. 5 primary,” said campaign manager David Plouffe, in a press release.
Aaron Wiley, a Utah native, will serve as Utah field director. Volunteers and supporters will phone-bank, organize door-knocking in communities across the state, and recruit additional supporters. An open house will be held on Saturday, Dec. 8, at noon at the Salt Lake City office, 1747 South 900 West.
The campaign says some 20 grassroots Obama support groups that have been started online, including "Utah for Obama" with almost 400 members, and "University of Utah for Obama" with more than 50 members. “Utah has one of the most active online communities in the country per capita and we plan to capitalize on the energy and enthusiasm for Barack Obama online,” said the press release. Supporters include State Reps. David Litvack, Phil Riesen, Carol Moss and Lynn Hemingway. More than 3,000 people have signed up to volunteer in Utah.
Ronald Reagan and the Mormons
Reagan had a record number of LDS staffers, and christened the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as “America’s Choir.” He admired the Church’s programs and said, “You know, there is a program that comes very close to being the most ideal way of dealing with those who are poor and unfortunate; and that is the Mormon Welfare Program.” (From Mike Winder’s Presidents and Prophets: The Story of America’s Presidents and the LDS Church)
Today in Political History
Nov. 29, 1944: The Federal Highway Act passed by Congress this date, establishes a new U.S. National System of Interstate Highways.
Nov. 29, 1947: The United Nations votes to grant the Jewish people a homeland in Palestine. (Source: Perspicuity)
Nov. 29, 1963: Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson names a commission headed by Earl Warren to investigate the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy. (National Journal Political Calendar)
Wise Words
"Statesmen are politicians who, when they make critical decisions, look beyond their own jurisdiction and the next election."
-- Gene Griessman (Source: The Americans)
Political Spotlight
The Utah Attorney General’s Office
The office of the Attorney General has its roots in 15th Century England, where the Attorney General, as the king's attorney, was considered not only the legal representative of the crown, but also the guardian of the public interest.
One of the first enactments of Utah’s new territorial legislative assembly in 1950 was to create the office of the Attorney General, who was selected by a joint vote of the legislative assembly to a term of four years. The duties of the office were set as follows:
“It shall be the duty of the Attorney General to keep his office at the seat of government, to attend to all legal business on the part of the Territory, before the courts, where the Territory is a party, and prosecute individuals accused of crimes in the judicial district which he keeps his office, in cases arising under the laws of the Territory, and such other duties as pertain to his office.”
The territorial office of Attorney General lasted for 22 years. In 1874, Congress passed the Poland Law, which abolished the jurisdiction of the Utah Territory’s “probate court” system and the territorial offices of the Attorney General and Marshall. In 1895 the people of Utah again created the office of Attorney General, this time in the Utah Constitution, making the Attorney General the legal adviser of the state officers, with other duties as provided by law.
Since the admission of Utah as a state on Jan. 4, 1896, the Attorney General has been an independently elected constitutional officer of the executive department with a term in office of four years. Since 1896, a number of organizational divisions have been created within the office to deal with specific issues and agencies. (Source: Utah .Gov)
CPPA Newsletter, Report
The University of Utah's Center for Public Policy & Administration has posted its latest Policy Perspectives newsletter. This month's edition features a look at affordable housing in Utah and an evaluation of Utah's tax system. CPPA has also posted a new Policy In-Depth Report, which "looks at the continuum of supports that are available to families in Utah where relatives, most of whom are grandparents, are trying to care for children."
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- Pew Research Center: "For the first time in a long time, nearly half of Americans express positive opinions about the situation in Iraq. A growing number says the U.S. war effort is going well, while greater percentages also believe the United States is making progress in reducing the number of Iraqi casualties, defeating the insurgents and preventing a civil war in Iraq."
-- Los Angeles Times: Good news from Iraq hasn't yet translated into better polling numbers for John McCain.
-- Roll Call: Columnist Mort Kondracke explains how Hillary Clinton could lose Iowa, New Hampshire, and the Democratic nomination.
-- The Politico: Pres. Bush and Al Gore sit down for 40-minutes to talk about global warming -- their first private meeting since the 2000 election.
Blog Watch
-- At Salt Blog, Ted McDonough discusses a new report that could provide fresh "fodder for the Utah-Vegas water wars."
Lighter Side
“Of all the things that can happen in this world, we’ll be prepared for that. Yes, we will. We’ll be prepared for anything that happens.”
-- Rudy Giuliani, reassuring a questioner who asked about possible intergalactic attacks (Campaigns & Elections magazine).
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