The huge leads held by Utah's four members of Congress probably doesn't help the cause of challengers hoping for more joint appearances outside of scheduled debates. According to the last Deseret Morning News/KSL poll, the closest Congressional race is in the 3rd District, and that's a 28-point rout.

Van Dam charges that Bennett already believes he has the election in the bag because of his 39-point lead.

"I think he's taking it for granted, is my impression," Van Dam said. "I understand he can do that given the numbers he has, but I think it's neglectful and disrespectful of the electorate."

Hopkins said the two-term senator knows better than to assume he's won the race with three weeks left in the campaign.

"You always worry up until election night that people will get apathetic about it," Hopkins said, referring to the big lead Bennett enjoys. "We're quite optimistic, but we're not taking anything for granted."

Hopkins also rebutted that Bennett was sending members of his campaign staff to help in tighter races elsewhere in the country. The Van Dam campaign had heard from its sources that Bennett's staff was helping Republican John Thune's campaign against Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle in South Dakota — a key national race.

"There's no substance to those rumors. We don't have any staffers working on any other campaign," Hopkins said. "The Daschle race would be a logical place to send somebody, but we didn't think about that."

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Senate debate schedule

Republican Sen. Bob Bennett vs. Democratic challenger Paul Van Dam

Today, noon, Dixie State University

Oct. 20, 6 p.m., Ch. 4

Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m., Ch. 2

Oct. 26, noon, Downtown Marriott (75. S. West Temple)

Oct. 26, 2:30 p.m., KBYU

Oct. 27, 5:30 p.m., Ch. 5

Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m., KUER/Hinckley Institute of Politics, U. of U., OSH 255

Oct. 30, 6 p.m., KUED

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Contributing: Josh Loftin

E-mail: jody@desnews.com