Shurtleff plans to run for U.S. Senate
In a feisty speech on the steps of the state Capitol, Mark Shurtleff made his long-anticipated announcement that he is in the running for U.S. Senate.
"The winds of change, they are a-blowin'," Shurtleff proclaimed Wednesday. "Not the bigger-government, corporate-welfare, radical-liberal-nannyism kind of change promised and now being implemented by (President Barack) Obama."
Shurtleff is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Bob Bennett, whom he accused of breaking promises to his constituents and overstaying his welcome in Washington, D.C.
"It's true that in Washington, seniority matters," Shurtleff said. "But not if that seniority is taking us in the wrong direction. More of the wrong medicine never cured anybody."
In his speech, Shurtleff sounded off about the "dangerous slope that could lead to socialism," touting himself as a supporter of a balanced budget amendment and property rights and someone with "conservative principles." His remarks were heavy on conservative rhetoric, invoking right-wing talk-show hosts, philosophers and patriotic heroes. Shurtleff, long considered a moderate, appears to be re-branding himself as more of a hard-line conservative.
"There's an anti-incumbent, anti-Washington, D.C., mood," said University of Utah political-science professor Tim Chambless, who watched Shurtleff's announcement Wednesday.
In an interview after his announcement, Shurtleff staunchly defended himself as a strong conservative, but acknowledged that he has been labeled more moderate on social issues.
"Certainly, I have to be able to respond to questions from people (on that)," he said. "But what we're facing is an economic crisis and the direction of this country and what this federal government is going to be like, and that has never changed with me."
Chambless and students in his political-science classes met last week with Bennett in Washington, where he said the senator acknowledged he was in the "political fight of his life." He views Shurtleff as a formidable challenger.
"The difficulty is getting out of the party convention," Chambless said.
Appearing to throw down the gauntlet, Bennett gave a brief statement about Shurtleff's announcement to the Deseret News.
"Welcome. Put on your hiking boots, and I'll see you on the campaign trail," he said.
Shurtleff knows that he faces stiff competition in the GOP convention against Tim Bridgewater and Bennett, saying he hopes to raise more than $1 million for his campaign war chest.
The attorney general acknowledged in his speech that the hardest hurdle for him to clear in running was his own family.
Recent comments
This is a great opportunity for Utah. Senator Bennett has done a...
McKay | May 22, 2009 at 3:13 p.m.
Some politicians just don't know when to hang up the gloves and go...
Go away Shurtleff | May 22, 2009 at 10:27 a.m.
Cynicism is a choice. To: Another Shurtleff as an apparently all...
Far West Journal | May 21, 2009 at 7:04 p.m.
- Germany celebrates Wall falling 3:53 p.m.
- Iraq electoral law passes 3:39 p.m.
- Memorial at site of Cleveland killings 3:35 p.m.
- Chavez to troops: Prepare for war 3:34 p.m.
- Suspect in Vail shooting faces charge 3:31 p.m.
- TCU moves into 4th place in BCS 3:16 p.m.
- Alcohol suspected in Roy shooting 2:36 p.m.
- Chaplain seeks prayers for meaning 2:36 p.m.
- La. Gov. declares state of emergency 2:34 p.m.
- 'SuperFreakonomics' just as fun 1:42 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
213 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - House passes health care bill
185 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
147 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
112 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
98
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
but, there's a 100% chance you don't know what you're talking about if...
Different year, same result! South Sevier you wanted it so badly to be your...
You are right on one thing, PG is amazing and played amazing last night....
What maybe one more year for Graft? Please make Alaina Parker the head...
Size Centers =3 Agility Centers =4 Boozer = size of power forward but...
Congrats, want a medal or something? I also called the 1968 world series...
BYU does well with extra time to prepare and mediocre, average...
for definition of clueless, see mirror "if TCU were to play Florida or...
If you dont like the officiating, and you think there needs to be new...
just fyi! everyone keeps saying that Shak got 2 injuries on his first run!...


