Utahns growing tired of Bennett

Two of every three Utahns want to see Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, ousted in his re-election bid next year.

However, all of the challengers seeking to unseat him currently trail far behind him anyway, and are bunched together with none emerging yet as the front-runner opponent, according to a new poll conducted for the Deseret News and KSL-TV by Dan Jones & Associates.

But Bennett is in real trouble. Pollster Dan Jones said the last time he saw such weak numbers for an incumbent was when former Rep. Merrill Cook, R-Utah, sought re-election in 2000 amid scandal over his erratic behavior. Cook lost a GOP primary that year to Derek Smith, who in turn lost the general election to Democrat Jim Matheson.

Bennett, 75, who has served 17 years in the Senate, faces no personal scandal, but has been attacked mostly by conservatives who say he is not conservative enough. However, the poll shows that similar percentages of conservatives, moderates and liberals all would like to see Bennett dumped next year, so opposition is not just from the far-right GOP wing.

"There is great dissatisfaction among the general public" about Bennett, Jones said. "But right now, nobody is ahead of him," so "if the election were held today, it's still his to lose."

When those polled were asked if they want Bennett to be re-elected next year, or if it is time to give someone new a chance, just 27 percent favored his re-election and 58 percent wanted someone new.

"That is very low. Normally, that's between 42 and 44 percent" in such questions for candidates considered to have good chances at re-election, Jones said.

The poll also asked about whom those polled would vote for if the election were held today.

It showed that 31 percent favored Bennett. Among other Republicans, Cherilyn Eagar had 5 percent of the support; Tim Bridgewater and Fred Lampropoulos, 4 percent each; Mike Lee, 3 percent; and James Russell Williams III, 1 percent.

Democrat Sam Granato had 14 percent of the support, and 35 percent of Utahns were undecided.

The poll surveyed 408 Utah adults statewide from Nov. 19-23, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

Jones said one sign of the vulnerability of Bennett is that in Salt Lake County, Bennett was ahead of Democrat Granato by just four points, 28 percent to 24 percent.

"And who knows Granato?" Jones said about the Democrat who has campaigned little so far. "That is all 'ABB' — Anybody But Bennett."

The poll was conducted among the general public, but the first real fight for Bennett is among just delegates to the state Republican convention in May. If a candidate receives 60 percent of delegate votes there, he or she proceeds directly to the general election; otherwise, the top two in the process proceed to a primary. Delegates are elected in March at party caucus meetings.

"It will be a real battle," Jones predicted. He said even if Bennett fails to get the most votes at the convention, it's unlikely anyone else in the crowded field can obtain 60 percent of the votes.

"And if he comes out, he'll be pretty hard to beat because of the name identification" among the general public, Jones said, meaning Bennett's toughest test is likely in the convention with smoother sailing afterward if he survives it.

Jim Bennett, the senator's son and campaign manager, focused on the silver lining in the numbers.

"It's very encouraging that Sen. Bennett beats all of his Republican challengers by over 6 to 1, every one of which trails the Democrat. He's the only candidate with enough support to ensure that this Senate seat stays in Republican hands," he said.