Cannon, Chaffetz in a tie

Despite the close poll numbers, Cannon still has the incumbency working for him, historically a stronger position than being the challenger.

Just before the 2006 GOP primary, Jones found that Cannon was 13 percentage points up on his intra-party challenger, John Jacob. And Cannon won by about 12 points — so that year Jones' survey was right on.

But polls are not meant to be predictors of actual events, only a statistically accurate finding at the point in time they are taken, Jones warns.

"I don't see this as very good voter turnout this year," said Jones, "and that's too bad." Jones sees maybe only 15 percent to 20 percent of 3rd District voters going to the polls Tuesday — less than 10 percent of voters going to the polls across the rest of the state.

The only statewide primary is a Republican contest for state treasurer, where chief deputy treasurer Richard Ellis faces state Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy.

There is a state House Democratic primary in District 69, which is headquartered in Price. There are also two GOP state House and one GOP state Senate primaries in northern Utah, and a few county council and commission primaries scattered around the state.

Outside of partisan politics, Tuesday is the final election for a number of Jordan School District posts in southern Salt Lake County.

The 3rd District takes in all but the northeast corner of Utah County, the western side of Salt Lake County, the Nephi area of Juab County and the counties of Sanpete, Sevier, Millard and Beaver. So only voters there will get a Cannon/Chaffetz ballot.

Cannon seeks his seventh, two-year term in office. He unseated Democratic Rep. Bill Orton in 1996.

Chaffetz is the former chief of staff to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. It is Chaffetz's first run for public office.

The 3rd District race has turned a bit bitter. Cannon is charging that Chaffetz is constantly "misrepresenting me and my positions." Chaffetz says Cannon is not telling the truth about his own congressional record. Just this past week, Cannon had to demand that one of his paid campaign staffers take down the worker's personal Web site, which Chaffetz says allowed readers to call him names and spread untrue rumors about Chaffetz.

Readers can find the men's stands on 20 issues asked by the newspaper at deseretnews.com. The two don't differ substantially on those issues, except that Chaffetz says he will listen to constituents (Cannon has not, he claims), and Cannon says it is unwise to change a "conservative" congressman now with so many important Utah issues before Congress.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com