Utah Demos' 'straw poll' is Feb. 24

Utah Democratic Party leaders have picked Feb. 24, 2004, as the date for their "straw poll" presidential primary.

It will be the second time state Democrats have funded and held their own primary in an effort to pick a presidential candidate. Democrats held a "straw poll" vote in 1992 where around 31,000 Utahns voted, said Todd Taylor, party executive director.

Whoever wins Feb. 24 will be backed by Democratic Party delegates to the National Democratic Convention next summer in Boston, where the ultimate nominee will be ratified.

GOP Gov. Mike Leavitt organized a regional presidential primary in 2000, when both major parties were picking new presidential nominees. Utah lawmakers gave $600,000 for that March election. Ultimately, only two other states joined in. And, unfortunately, the Democratic and Republican parties' nominees were basically picked in other states' primaries just days before Utah's.

Facing state deficits and with Republicans already knowing who their party's nominee will be in 2004 — President Bush — lawmakers refused to fund the primary next year.

Without state aid, Democrats must go it alone. And months ago party leaders said they'd hold their party-run vote in early 2004.

"This is an exciting event that will help us begin organizing for victory in next year's elections," said newly installed state party chairman Donald Dunn. By holding the vote before other large primaries, the Democratic field will still likely be large, with no one yet clinching the nomination, said Dunn. "It should be an open race. We hope to get some (Democratic) candidates in Utah campaigning."

He adds: "Given how elections for president go in Utah, this primary is one chance for Democrats to make a meaningful vote for who they want to see as the next president of the United States."

Utahns have not voted as a majority for a Democratic presidential nominee in a general election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The Republican Party nominee has carried the state every presidential election since. Because of the Electoral College — where each state gets the same number of votes as it has in Congress — Utahns who vote for anyone other than the GOP nominee at the general election are in effect disenfranchised. Their vote doesn't count toward who actually becomes president.

So by voting in the Feb. 24 Democratic primary, Utahns will have some say who wins that party's nomination, and if that Democrat wins the presidency, then Utahns did have some say in picking the new leader, explained Dunn.

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