Utah Demos to voice their choice Feb. 24

Utah Democrats will have a chance to vote on their choice for the party's presidential nominee Feb. 24, a primary that could draw more interest thanks to the results of Monday's Iowa caucuses.

Who'll win Utah's "straw poll" that will be conducted at libraries, universities and colleges throughout the state is likely now anybody's guess with one-time frontrunner Howard Dean finishing third in Iowa.

The former Vermont governor trailed behind Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, putting a little bit of a damper on a gathering of Dean supporters at downtown's Cabana Club.

"Obviously, we'd love to see him in a higher position," said Peter Corroon, head of the Dean effort in Utah. Still, Corroon predicted a win here for Dean — his first cousin. "I think Utah is a very independent state and the people here will make up their own minds."

Dean's finish also surprised Joe Inman, state coordinator for Dennis Kucinich's campaign. The Ohio congressman finished with slightly more than 1 percent of the vote in Iowa.

"I would've guessed maybe Dean was going to win (Utah), but now the result of Iowa is going to turn things upside down," Inman said. He wasn't ready to project a winner here, however.

"Let's face it: In Utah, being a Democrat is not that easy. The people who are Democrats tend to be very progressive," Inman said, suggesting Kerry might have a tough time coming out on top. "The big unknown is Edwards."

Not surprisingly, Kerry's backers in Utah see his victory in Iowa as a sign of things to come.

"This was just huge for him tonight," said Salt Lake County Councilman Randy Horiuchi, a co-chairman of Kerry's steering committee in Utah. "People, while they may have been infatuated with the Dean newness, it's wearing off."

Horiuchi said Utah Democrats may well follow the example set by their Iowa counterparts.

"Iowans are like Utahns," he said. "They are very practical, down-to-earth people, and that's how they vote."

Seven Democrats are on the Utah ballot: Kerry, Edwards, Dean, Kucinich, retired general Wesley Clark, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri. Gephardt, who dropped out of the race Monday, does not have a campaign organization in Utah but his name is expected to stay on the ballot.

An earlier plan to allow Utah Democrats to vote via the Internet, which might have been a boost to the net-savvy Dean campaign, has been scrapped.

Officials of the Utah Democratic Party, which is organizing and funding this primary, have indicated those wanting to participate in the primary must show proof of Utah residency and sign a form indicating they are a Democrat.

Sixteen states, including New Hampshire, will hold Democratic primaries before Utah. On March 2, known as "Tidal Wave Tuesday," another 10 presidential primaries will be held that determine more than one-third of the delegates to the national convention.

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