There are several Mormons for Obama groups on social network sites. I have yet to see a single "Mormons for McCain" group. Maybe not in 2008, but the young generation will not accept the LDS=GOP equation forever.

Chaffetz ought to not get too smug with laughing and believing his opponent doesn't have a chance. Weirder things have happened and I wouldn't be surprised if Spencer pulls out an upset. See if Chaffetz is laughing then.

Yes, I'm voting for Spencer and not Chaffetz. I'm done with the Utah GOP criminals.

Message to Chaffetz - don't forget how Bill Orton got elected.

This republican knows it's easier to get rid of a good democrat in this district than a bad republican.

I don't want a candidate who's all talk - and Chaffetz - that's how you come across.

I just might be voting democrat this November - Chaffetz - do not take my vote for granted! It's not a given that it will be for you.

That is Chaffetz: smug, arrogant & assuming that the seat is "his." I always voted for Cannon but will go for Spencer in November.

Representatives should reflect the political philsophy of the district they represent. It would be wrong for a Republican to represent a place like San Francisco because that district is liberal. Likewise it would be wrong for a Democrat to represent the third district of Utah. The people in that district are conservative.

When Bill Orton was elected on a fluke in 1990, it was a bad mistake. He spent three terms lying to his constituents about what he was doing in Washington. He was trying to straddle the fence between his constituents and his party leadership which were in total conflict with each other. Jim Matheson does the same thing even though he claims to be a "conservative" Democrat. Spencer would do the same thing. HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY CHOICE. Just ask him who he plans to vote for as Speaker. I can promise you it will be Nancy Pelosi.

I've spent a lot of years of my life as a political professional. That's the way Washington works. If you are for weak national security, partial-birth abortion, gun control, higher taxes and liberal activist judges, vote for Bennion Spencer.

I think the fact that Harry Reid has gone higher than any LDS politician indicates that the LDS=Republican days are coming to an end. I think Chaffetz has the potential to be a serious embarrassment. He just seems like an air-head. The fact he used to work for NuSkin (NuScam) doesn't do much to change that image. Let's hope that Utah Valley Repubs will give Bennion Spencer a long look.

Spencer is out of touch with the kind of government Utah County residents want their representative to support. He's dreaming if he thinks he can finish inside 10 points. Democrats simply do not support the role of government envisioned by self-reliant people.

For the first time ever, I'm voting for a democrat.

Chaffetz is world class arrogant, and it is just showing. Just ask the people in the Governor's office, not one of which supported Chaffetz.

Chaffetz knows he fooled the GOP and is rolling around in his greatness. What he hasn't counted on is the level of disdain for his lies. I'ver served on the GOP State Central Committee, state delegate a dozen times, county delegate more than that, etc. I am organizing Republicans for Spencer.

The State of Utah and the third District will be much better served by having a Bill Orton type Democrat for two years then come back with honest Republican candidates in 2010.

Chaffetz must not win this fall! Tell everyone you know: Dump the conman!

If the dems had even a remote chance the party would be pumping some serious cash into the race.

About time the media mentioned the Constitution Party and one of our best candidates, Jim Noorlander. If you are tired of the GOP but you are conservative, you actually DO have a good choice. Don't vote Democrat just to protest the GOP and its arrogance in this race. Jim Noorlander got 8.8% in 2006 against Cannon. Think outside the box the two major parties have built for you.

With congress likely to turn even more democratic in the next election, Chaffetz and his right wing ideas (faith in nukes and oil, stay in Iraq, etc.)will be largely neutralized.

Contrary to delusional opinion, Utah's 3rd Congressional District hasn't become pro-homosexual marriage, anti-business, pro-ACLU, and anti-God. So, it's unlikely a Dem's going to win here.

More than half of the vote in UT-3 comes from Salt Lake County. Utah County is a minority of the district.

...Cannon loyalists supporting the opposition. Nothing could show the need for change within the Utah Republican Party inner-circle than people who would turn on a fellow party candidate simply because their candidate lost.

I'm voting for Chaffetz because he's straightforward and not affraid to take on the "establishment" who've forgotten who they represent.

Wow someone is already acting arrogant, without being elected first. Wow, I know who I'll be voting for and who to rally people against.

I thought the choice in the primaries was awful, but once again politics has proven that it can always get worse. Chaffetz is an arrogant blowhard, and the thought of him representing me makes me shudder. However, Everything I know about Bennion Spencer tells me that he would vote against everything that I want.

I don't believe those on this thread who say they are lifelong Republicans and are, for the first time, going to vote for Spencer. Most of them, in my opinion, are Democrats wanting to get Republicans thinking about voting for Spencer because "other Republicans" are doing the same thing.

Rest easy, Democrats. There is no need to lie and sell your values for cheap political tricks. Most of us already know what type of guy Chaffetz is, and we're not sure we like him. If you could convince your candidate to not be a leftist crazy like so many in the national Party, you might get some of us to vote for him. There are reasonably moderate Democrats in Congress (few), and we migth be able to stomach one for a while. We won't, however, vote for the regular litany of liberal proposals.

I'm carefully studying both candidates. If the Democrat candidate speaks against abortion and against socialized government he might pull off an upset. I'm one Republican that just can't see any reason to vote for Mr. Chaffetz. In my opinion, his resume shows that he has not been able to handle the little jobs (compared to being a Congressman). I just don't think that he is prepared to represent me in Congress.

That guy is a fake. I've heard stories he's not what he claims to be. Faking conservative is the easiest position to take ... He's pulling the wool over everyone's eyes.

Some rather arrogant poster here. Very sure of their opinions and never of the mind to let facts stand in their way.

Chaffetz arrogant? From this article? You're deciding based upon the way the person wrote the article. "He laughed" means what? And pray tell, would you want someone representing you who wasn't a bit self-confident (which some call arrogant) when they have to go back to DC and do the battle?

A Democrat actual won in Utah Valley? Yes, Bill Orton did win, but, why? Orton is a good guy and worked hard, but, he won because Snow and Harmon were so contentious and radical in the primary that many of Harmon's supporter purposefully voted for Orton. Bill said otherwise, but exit polls proved him wrong. Again, he did a good job in DC, but don't let his win make Dems arrogant.

Chaffetz a con man? What a cheap shot. Where are your facts? Just because he worked for yet another of the plethora of multi-levels in Utah (if one more person approaches me! Ugh!), isn't proof.

Unless Spencer can make a more convincing case than Chaffetz, he won't win.

I have met Jason Chaffetz and I genuinely like the guy. I have never got the impression that he is arrogant. He is confident and, given his huge victory over Chris Cannon in the primary, he should be. He has a solid organization of dedicated people behind him that will work hard to get him elected in November. I am sure there will be many opportunities to meet the candidates before the election. I hope people will take advantage of those opportunities and decide for themselves who will be the best representative for our district.

Don't confuse arrogance with confidence. Don't confuse a pleasant demeanor and a well developed sense of humor with rhetoric from a news story (i.e., "Chaffetz laughed") meant to get people who don't personally know him to judge him critically. Chaffetz has great confidence in his team and he is well suited and prepared for the task ahead. Does he still have a learning curve? Absolutely. Can he handle it? I have no doubt in my mind that he can. Those who criticize Jason do so with no real knowledge of who the man is. They are interested in smearing him without really finding out about him. Or they worked on the Cannon and/or Leavitt campaigns and are still sore about losing.

Well James, you better send your letter of resignation now, since you have been actively campaigning for a Democrat and party by-laws state that any party officer including chair, vice-chair, etc:
"Publicly support only Republican candidates for partisan public office. Any officer who publicly supports or runs as a non-Republican Party candidate in a partisan race will be subject to removal for cause from his/her elected or appointed office. (“Publicly supports” includes such things as, but is not limited to, giving written or oral public endorsements, posting signs, allowing the use of
the officer’s name in campaign literature, writing letters to the editor, providing money or in-kind contributions.)

Jason has already said he will fundraise and work hard through November and beyond. His volunteer campaign team has grown significantly since the primary and they will work hard as well. He is already working hard and for some bizarre reason gets slammed for it. If he sat around on his duff doing nothing, he'd get slammed for that too. I'm glad I can vote for a Congressman who wants to hit the ground running, who is willing to work hard and who has already been doing that. And, I'm glad to have a candidate who thinks he can win. Imagine the field day ya'll would have if Jason said "Well, um, I don't know if I have a shot, but um, I think, um, I hope you'll vote for me anyway". Oh wait. That would make him sound like Mr. Spencer.
I can't wait until Jason is in Congress representing ME and I know *I* will be out there volunteering hard (as opposed to working hard - ha!) to help make that happen.

When someone is as arrogant about his chances of winning as Chaffetz is, I see no scenario where he will be accountable to the people. Why should he bother listening to them and representing him if the people automatically vote for him instead of approaching the ballot box with perpetual skepticism. At least with his attitude, in my mind he has already been corrupted by Washington.

I am a Republican Activist! I have been for almost 20 years. However, I was not dubed into voting for Chaffetz at the convention or the primary. I am a moderate Republican and will vote for the Democrat. At least, he has the guts to tell us what he really thinks, not just speak the delegates language in meetings and the convention. At least, Cannon was open and honest.

I hope the voting public will realize that they will get a supposed right-wing NUT, if they elect Chaffetz. We need to bring the party back to the people and electing a NUT will not do so. Let's elect Spencer Bennion and have someone who will represent the normal person in the 3rd district.

I love all of those people posting who claim to know all about Jason's employment history and personality traits. These posts have the same dirt - completely devoid of facts - that we saw from the Cannon campaign after Jason won the GOP convention. Keep it up please, it is great to see your true colors.

Where is David Leavitt when we need him? It should have been a primary between Cannon and Leavitt. Leavitt would have taken the election and we would have someone who was willing to be open and honest. He did not give the same speech over and over. Is it really what Jason thinks or was it a well rehearsed speech? I hope it was a well rehearsed speech, because I don't want that wacko representing me. I'll vote Democrat for sure.

I agree with "What A Choice." I think a lot of people on this blog are less than honest about their party affiliation. I don't believe a lot of Republicans are going to vote Democrat for "the first time in their lives."

To vote for Spencer would be a vote for Nancy Pelosi and the whole Democrat left-wing machine.

Jason Chaffetz may not be your favorite person, but voting Democrat will get you another phony like Bill Orton and Jim Matheson who pretend to be conservative but support the Party line. The Democrats allow them a few throw-away votes to protect their seats. That's how it works. Their very presence in the Congress allows the far-left Democrat leadership to stay in power.

I know a few Republicans have screwed up, but Don't be fooled. Unless you are for big government, gay marriage, high taxes, liberal activist judges and weak national security, vote Republican.

How can a guy who doesn't live in the district he seeks to represent be so certain that the people of the district will elect him? His primary election was just a backlash against Chris Cannon.

This article presents Chaffetz as arrogant based on how he 'laughs', and the headline has the intent of making the reader think the same. What we ought to consider here, however, is that Jason beat out Chris Cannon, who is the brother of the HEAD OF THE NEWSPAPER, Joe Cannon. So basically, anything that the DesNews writes on Chaffetz has an underhand insult in it towards him. It's like a little kid who's still pouting over a loss and trying to get revenge in the most subtle of ways. Now that I've pointed it out, start paying attention to the DesNews articles, and you'll realize how much they really are out to misrepresent Chaffetz.

Just because the newspaper depicts someone as smug doesn't mean they are. I've been volunteering on the Chaffetz campaign since the convention. I haven't seen the arrogance that newspapers and Cannon staffers reference. Jason has been very humble, very approachable, and very responsive to my concerns.

Someone who is smug, arrogant and overconfident would never be able to motivate 1,000+ people to go to work for him for free. Those of us who actually talk to candidates and rely on something more than newspaper reports to form our opinions support Chaffetz in huge numbers. If you don't know why that is, then maybe you need to meet him yourself.

The article paints Jason just how he is, an arrogant hot shot. Anyone who has seen/worked with him in a professional setting (NuSkin) knows that he doesn't care about anyone but himself. Find a former co-worker and ask them who they will be voting for.

Not trying to stir the pot, just stating FACTS.

This guy seems like a nut job.

Cynthia,

If the Deseret News published Jason Chaffetz's employment history, including the facts surrounding his exit from various jobs, and if the Deseret News published true and accurate reports from Jason Chaffetz's former employers, including the Govenor, would you still claim bias?

The Deseret News has used great restraint in all articles about Jason Chaffetz. If anything, Mr. Chaffetz has NOT been misrepresented, he has not been truthfully and accurately represented at all.

The 3rd District has a right to know exactly who he is and what he has done. We voters should picket the Deseret News until Mr. Cannon finally prints the known facts about Mr. Chaffetz. If Mr. Cannon actually did that, Mr. Chaffetz could save his campaign funds because the voters would know that Mr. Chaffetz is not qualified to represent the 3rd District.

Typical Republican arrogance! You think he takes for granted your vote? He believes because he is the Republican nominee, he is "entitled" to the position. That's alot of hubris coming from a placekicker.

Vote for Jason Chaffetz. If for no other reason, the Deseret news deletes any comments they don't like that say why you should. Let see if this goes through.

By the way, James, just because it wasn't Leavitt and Cannon in the primary, doesn't mean you have to switch parties. Jason is a great guy. You have been listening to bad info for too long.

Why was my first post deleted?

Obi wan,
You have to remember bias. I have met Jason, and he is he isn't the smug prideful idiot that the papers seem to paint him.

Jason is smart. He knows how to deal with finances. He actually has some govermental experience.

patience son, the system takes a few minutes to post comments....

The five democrats I know all registered as republican several months ago with the intent of taking part in any republican primary to help their position for November.

I'm getting really sick of the whispers and the gossip of the anonymous posters here. If you have some "facts" that you think are enlightening to the debate that you think the Des News is sitting on, contact the City Weekly they would love to publish it; however they do fact check over there so they won't just publish rumor and innuendo. You could even publish it yourself on a blog, but that would leave you open to the liability of publishing falsehoods. So you whisper it here where the Des. Snooze preserves your anonymity and you are safe in throwing rocks without beeing seen.

"Anonimity breeds contempt"

I really think a lot of these comments are coming from the Spencer Campaign. As a campaign veteran I know how it works. It's a really cheap way of getting your message out and attacking your opponent. I think a lot of these so-called "Republicans" are really members of the Spencer campaign.

And I can't believe that anyone who actually knows Chris Cannon would ever think he is "open and honest." That is hilarious.

It'll be interesting to see if this gets posted.

Anger issues..
No, the one I posted earlier this morning never made it.
I just sent 3, and they went though fine.

Anyone who says they are a republican but will vote for a democrat is a FOOL. Period. The agenda of each party is diametrically opposed and to give power to your political and moral adversary to govern you is extremely short-sighted.

Apparently Chaffetz clearly understands the effectiveness of Utah's gerrymandered districts.

Chaffetz won't be getting my vote with such arrogance, but he will still be the representative. He is effectively running unopposed being the 'Republican' in the race, even if he is so undesirable.

I think it is pretty obvious to any thinking person that the previous volley of negative, anonymous comments about Jason Chaffetz is just sleaze issuing from the Spencer campaign.

Just another sample of liberal Democrat ethics, or rather lack thereof.

Jason Chaffetz has a keen sense of humor, is quick witted and cheerful which the Deseret News writer is obviously spinning.

Jason's appeal to me is his clear and strong constitutional positions, especially regarding the illegal invasion of this country by aliens and the crime and social problems many of them have created (see today's sad Faviola Hernandez story). Jason is pro-life, defends the 2nd amendment, and, as I said, takes clear constitutional positions.

The challenge to Jason, and all conservatives, is to stand up for those foundational principles against the unrelenting socialist pressures in Washington, D.C.

I'm not tied to Chaffetz but wondered about your comment that he was arrogant. Any examples? Don't use the paper; that's 3rd party heresay.

Are you confusing essential confidence with arrogance because you lack confidence?

Again, I don't know the guy.

As to being qualified... exactly what qualifications do you need to be a Congressmen except 1) Constitutional age requirement and 2) get the majority of votes.

Surely with the awful Congress we have today NO ONE can consider Chaffetz any less qualified than these bums. Cannon was not effective to be sure. No sponsorship of any major legislation and no influence. Chaffetz can't be worse.

I suspect Chaffetz will vote as Conservative as Cannon. If he can take some stands and show some leadership for good causes then he'll be an improvement.

How refreshing it would be if the posting bloggers were only the average voter with no ties to either candidate. It's painfully obvious that numerous Cannon, Leavitt, and Chaffetz insiders are misrepresenting factual information in order to sway others to their way of thinking. Whether for revenge, jealously, greed, or feeding a super ego, this kind of manipulation is not helpful to the average voter. I'm interested in issues, not rumors, spite, or personalities. Yes, character matters, but thank you very much - I can judge for a candidate's character and values for myself.