'Moral issues' stance may hurt Ashdown

Pete Ashdown is not your standard Democratic U.S. Senate candidate — he's high-tech savvy, using the Internet to solicit ideas on issues, raise money and conduct opposition research on GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch.

But a search of Ashdown's Web-site issues (www.peteashdown.org) shows that the first-time candidate has adopted some traditional Democratic stands that could harm him in conservative, LDS Church-dominated Utah, at least in a statewide race.

"Obviously, from our point of view, his views are not in line with most Utahns," says Dave Hansen, Hatch's campaign manager, joking that Ashdown's stands on some so-called moral issues "are some good targets of opportunity."

But Ashdown says he's approaching issues "through the Constitution," and he's proud that he's running what he terms a nontraditional, voter-friendly campaign.

"When people ask how can you take that stand, I say I vow to uphold the Constitution first. Second comes constituent input," says Ashdown, who is using a "collaboration wiki" Web site where anyone can log in and suggest changes to his stands.

"Finally, it is then my own opinion. But in areas like the death penalty or terminating a pregnancy or definition of marriage, I believe the Constitution is clear in those areas," he says.

Hatch's Web site lists eight issues with the senator's stands on each. Ashdown's lists 46.

Being candid and explicit on so many issues is a political "mixed bag," Ashdown admits.

"Many people find it refreshing — my honesty and openness. That overrides their politics. But some just look for a hot-button issue and won't be convinced otherwise. Frankly, I can't be helpful to those people, if one or two issues is all they care about."

Some examples of where his views may harm him politically in conservative Utah:

• Abortion: Ashdown is pro-choice. While saying local, state and federal governments should act together to decrease the need for elective abortions, "Women should have the option for safe pregnancy termination."

Opposing state and federal constitutional amendments banning abortions, Ashdown says, "let's control the demand for abortion with the sensible use of contraception, education and abstinence."

• Marriage: Ashdown opposes banning gay marriage. He's against government interference in all "intimate affairs" between consenting adults.

"I would vote against 'message bills' regarding marriage because this is best left to an individual's" own decisions. His opposition to "message bills" includes any bills "that would ban or affirm any form of marriage."