Cannon agrees to debate

PROVO — One person can make a difference.

Orem resident Ivan Keller, one of more than 1,000 delegates who will decide next month whether Congressman Chris Cannon will be forced into a Republican primary as he seeks a fifth term in Utah's 3rd District, apparently persuaded Cannon to meet his two GOP challengers in a debate.

A week ago Cannon said a debate wouldn't fit in his schedule.

Cannon placed a campaign call to Keller on Monday and Keller asked him about a Deseret Morning News story on the debate issue. Cannon, who is returning to Washington, D.C., on Sunday, invited Keller to call his secretary and see if there was an opening in his schedule.

When Keller heard Cannon was free at 3 p.m. on Saturday, he had what he wanted — Keller knew Cannon, Greg Hawkins and Matt Throckmorton already were scheduled to meet delegates at Sharon Elementary Park in Orem at 4 p.m.

Voila! A debate was hatched, scheduled in the park at 3 p.m.

It's only an hour, and Keller will moderate based on questions he solicits from the candidates, but it's a debate.

"It's certainly the best thing for all of us in Utah County, and I believe it's the best thing for all of the candidates," Keller said.

Keller plans to invite all Utah County delegates to attend.

"I want them to be informed when they get to the convention so they can make a good decision," he said.

Hawkins and Throckmorton welcomed the opportunity.

"I'm thrilled," Hawkins said. "I didn't think Chris would do it, and I'm glad. . . . We want to be on the stage with these guys so people can see who's articulating the best. Any time the three of us can get together at an event, I say hallelujah and hooray."

Throckmorton said he would continue to press Cannon to accept an offer from CNN's Lou Dobbs to debate immigration policy on his talk show. Throckmorton is also continuing his one-sided plans to debate Cannon on May 7, the eve of the state Republican convention.

"Exploring the contrast between Chris and me is what we're after," Throckmorton said.

Cannon is ready to answer any delegate's questions, spokeswoman Meghan Riding said.