Odds are against a candidacy for Wright

Pignanelli: The election dynamics of the 2nd Congressional District remain consistent: strange and bizarre. The 2006 campaign promises the same fun. For example, a number of conservative Republicans and Matheson Democrats are expressing their frustration with the "unannounced candidate" status of Doug Wright. Although he has not officially declared his candidacy, Wright has benefited from all the public discussions suggesting he may be a contender for the position. A popular radio personality, Wright is a frequent speaker and celebrity at various political of events. Normally this is not a problem, but Wright's potential opponents believe that the airways are public and therefore no one should be able to use them to their political advantage without a response. These concerns regarding Wright's activities have brought together a strange coalition of activists from both ends of the political spectrum.

As LaVarr points out below, Jim Matheson is incredibly well positioned for a strong victory in November. Politicos predict that he will raise in excess of $2 million, almost half of this amount from individual donors. The congressman has helped deliver a number of important projects (i.e. the St. George Airport, the Sandy Trax station) and is well known for resolving problems for constituents. With a 78 percent job approval rating, even his arch nemesis, the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, has indirectly admitted they will have problems capturing the seat.

Many GOP leaders are making a common political mistake: maintaining a search for the candidate with the right profile. They believe Doug Wright satisfies their list of requirements (i.e. great personality, good-looking, well-known, a moderate). However, it is my experience that the best profile for a candidate is someone who works hard, raises money, knows the issues and is willing to endure all the hardships of the campaign. LaVar Christiansen has demonstrated he is able to perform these imperatives. Not only has he donated $150,000 of his own money, he's already raised $35,000 from others. (He has currently suspended raising money during the legislative session to avoid obvious charges of abuse of office.) Christensen is the author of Amendment 3 and sponsor of legislation to honor Ronald Reagan. Utah conservatives love this guy.