In 2000 Smith went on to lose to Democrat Jim Matheson in a district that — even with GOP gerrymandering in 2001 — has moved more to the Democratic side. But Utah's 3rd District remains one of the most Republican in the nation.

So there is still a strong chance Cannon's loss Tuesday won't mean one less Republican in Congress.

What next in Utah?

Perhaps looking forward to his own re-election in 2010, at the state GOP convention Sen. Bob Bennett wondered aloud if Cannon — or any incumbent — could get out of the convention considering the anger of some delegates. Bennett told the Deseret News then that he would run again in two years.

But it was not the delegates who kicked Cannon out of office. It was primary voters.

Sen. Hatch, speaking recently to the Deseret News editorial board, chaired by the newspaper's editor, Joe Cannon, Chris Cannon's older brother, went on at some length about how stupid it would be for 3rd District GOP voters to turn out the 12-year incumbent for someone new, who would have no seniority and lack the trust fellow House members have in Cannon.

Hatch also explained in detail how conservative Republicans, such as himself, Chris Cannon, Bennett and 1st District Rep. Rob Bishop, are not responsible for the current large federal budget spending and growing deficits. Even when there was a Republican president and GOP control in Congress, "moderate" Republican senators wouldn't vote for budget restraints, Hatch said.

Hatch said, however, that he too sees real unhappiness in the Utah and American electorate. Whether that discontent will continue into the 2010 and 2012 elections remains to be seen. But federal officeholders from Utah can't be happy to see a fellow incumbent nearly beaten in a convention, then trounced in a primary, and all done by an opponent with very little money and few endorsements.

Wednesday, Hatch congratulated Chaffetz and said he would work hard for Chaffetz's election. Hatch added: "It is important to 3rd District residents that (Chaffetz) become as effective as possible in Washington while he builds up seniority."

But Chaffetz has placed the blame for America's current problems at Washington's door, not just pointing a finger at congressional Democrats but at Utah's GOP delegation as well.

Chaffetz said that Republicans "blew their chance" at controlling the federal government, and have failed not only Americans in general but specifically Republican voters who put them in office.

The "abandonment of Republican core values" by Washington GOP officeholders must be reversed, Chaffetz said.

Cannon said he has no regrets and that he stood for sound, reasonable issues that he was proud to espouse. "My positions are clear and consistent." He choked up when he told the newspaper how thankful he was for his family, staff and supporters over the years.

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Contributing: Suzanne Struglinski

E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com