Chaffetz planning attack on Cannon's votes

WASHINGTON — Jason Chaffetz may not have as much money as opponent David Leavitt or 3rd Congressional District Rep. Chris Cannon, but he has a three-ring binder full of examples on why Cannon should not be sent back to Washington and voters should opt for him instead of Leavitt.

From details on the immigration debate to a minute-by-minute review of Cannon's voting record, the politicking has clearly begun in the 3rd District race, just weeks before Republican delegates get selected at the March 25 caucuses.

Cannon and his challengers all want more than 60 percent of the vote of delegates at the state's Republican nominating convention in May, which under the rules would eliminate a primary race.

Chaffetz, a former chief of staff to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., is in Washington this week to research Cannon's legislative records as well as meet with potential donors. He said he is focusing on meeting with potential voters who he says tell him they are ready for a change from Cannon.

"I think they are just starving to find someone they can believe in," Chaffetz said.

Immigration will continue to be a major campaign issue, with all the candidates explaining how they are not for amnesty of illegal immigrants in this country.

Chaffetz not only insists he would be tougher on immigration than Cannon, but says the six-term lawmaker has managed to miss more than a handful of votes, some by just minutes, to avoid taking a stance on important issues.

From his binder, which he said contains two years of research, he pulls out voting records showing Cannon voting on a bill but then missing one five minutes or so later but then recording a vote on a bill minutes after that.

"Seniority doesn't matter if you are not voting and you don't show up to vote," Chaffetz said. "I think that's just wrong. He misses key votes ... "

Joe Hunter, Cannon's chief of staff, said the number of votes Cannon's has missed it not out of line with other members of Congress.

"The idea that Cannon is deciding not to vote is absolutely ridiculous," Hunter said, pointing out that there are a "myriad of reasons" on why Cannon could have missed votes, including working on legislation on the Senate side, being in meetings or hearings as well as back home in Utah while his daughter Rachel was battling cancer. She died in 2005 at the age of 25.