Comments about ‘Write-in campaign for Bennett would likely fail’

If Mr. Bennett thinks that he owns a Senate seat, then, by all means, let him use every resource possible to retain that seat; but, if loosing is so hard now, what will he do when he comes in 3rd place behind a Republican and a Democrat?

Life moves on for everyone. It's time that Mr. Bennett stopped believing his own press releases.

I would write him in, I prefer the mainstream republican to the far right.

However I have to wonder why at his age he wants to continue working. I'd take my money (and he has ample) and take life easy.

He is very popular in the state, He would win if he enters the race

A write in candidacy would just confirm everyone's worst suspicions about Bennett and besmirch his reputation forever.

Move on, Bailout Bob.

Bennett's big ego will convince him to run a write-in campaign. And he will lose. He needs to fold up his tent and go home. Or stay in Washington and become a very highly paid lobbiest for the Banks.

To Subscriber:

Which worst suspicions are you referring to? I can think of a large list of reasons Bennett would or would not continue with a write in campaign- both selfish and unselfish reasons.

If he were younger and had a plan to change politics-as-usual in Washington... I think running a write-in campaign would be a good response.

But if I were his age, and had served my 18 years... I would just look forward to spending more time here in Utah with my family, traveling only when I wanted to, and not having to spend every day being involved in the partisan fighting and feathering each other's nests... that goes on in Washington.

I would be glad to be out politics.

If Bob Bennett runs as a write-in candidate, I will vote for him. I will encourage my friends to vote for him.

Yes, the political world was rocked, but not only in Utah. Politicians and commentators across the nation are taking note that a big-government Republican is as vulnerable as a big-government Democrat.

Jonah Goldberg of National Review writes "In every way, [Bennett] represented the establishment within the GOP. And, ultimately, that’s why he lost."

Further: "In D.C., the coin of the realm is 'seniority and connections,' and it is that currency that bought us the calamitous state of the country. Ironically, both George W. Bush and Barack Obama were elected promising to 'change the way Washington works.' For the powers that be, the more frightening and tangible lesson from Utah might well be: 'This time we mean it.'”

(The Lesson of Robert Bennett, May 12, 2010.)

Bob,

Where on earth did you get the idea that around 40% of Utah voters would actually support Bennett in an election??

There was one poll -- one misleading poll at that! -- that months ago indicated that name recognition and issue awareness amongst Utah voters was so low that a bit more than a third were willing to "stick with the status quo" as it were.

That's hardly resounding support! As voters become aware of the issues and the candidates that will change a great deal. Most of the time in this Republican state the status quo incumbents get 80%+ support. 39% was the first sign that Bennett was in major trouble. That trouble has only grown -- favorable media reports notwithstanding.

Bennett cannot stand on his record as it is overwhelmingly *for* massive Federal growth that most Utahns oppose. He cannot stand on his chairmanships -- as, again, he mostly just rubber-stamped the types of government appropriations that a majority of Utahns oppose. He cannot even stand on his vaunted "issues" that he promises to fight for recently.

In Saturday's nominating speech he made a promise that he broke by Tuesday.

He's done. Appropriately.

Maybe the "Change" Obama promised just took awhile to happend.

Senator Bennett would win if he can garner the support at the polls. Most the time a write-in ballot is not done correctly. so if done correctly I think the Senator could win his last term of his career.

Mike Lee is just upset because everyone caught on to his constitution speech over and over. Neither guy has any political experience and does nothing for the State of Utah. I would confidently say Democrats and Independents would vote for Bennett to keep either of these jokers from getting elected.

"LOOK UTAH" Bob Bennett as well as your Hatch failed ya'll badly. It's time to dump them BOTH into the Great Salt Lake, and see if their bs floats there. Even from a "outsider" that lives in the tropics can see that.

Utah's full of loosers.

Congressman Gus Bilirakis: As a lifelong resident of the area I am ecstatic that the next Republican convention will be held in Tampa. The selection further thrusts the Bay area and the state into the national spotlight, while cementing Tampa as one of the nation's best cities. Just as with the Super Bowl, the convention will provide the area with a huge economic boost and allow the rest of the nation to discover everything our community has to offer. Congressman Adam Putnam: I welcome the selection of Tampa Bay as the site for the 2012 Republican Convention. Tampa will serve as a gorgeous backdrop to showcase Florida and Republicans and Democrats alike will be the winners as tens of thousands descend on the bay area to enjoy our world class beaches, restaurants and other attractions. The eyes of the world will be focused on our state for this historic convention.

Brother Chuck Schroeder | 12:07 p.m.

You seem to be very prideful today.

And I'm glad you got the convention. I hope you have a good time. I'm glad we didn't get it.



P.S.
How do you know "Utah's full of loosers".... If you live in Florida? That just sounds very judgemntal to me.

Hint... You can't judge everyone in a state from what you see posted on an opinion page. I thought everybody knew that.

WINNING the election isn't always what a write-in/independent campaign is all about.

Sometimes it's about wanting to participate in the debate.

Sometimes it's about seeing which side you can hurt most.

Sometimes it's actually about winning. Leiberman (a centerist) did it in Connecticut. Maybe Bennett could do it in Utah?

Brother Chuck Schroeder,

Congrats on Tampa winning the losing presidential convention in 2012. Hope you enjoy all those tea partiers coming to your town.

Also, if Utah is full of loosers as you so eloquently put it, why are you, who lives in Florida, so interested in commenting on the articles in a Utah newspaper? Do you have some strange inclination for interacting with people you deem as "loosers"?

Bennett's refused to own up to his failures and shortcomings; he's refused to admit mistakes or apologize for votes he cast and issues he's worked for that were against the best interests of Utahns and Americans; he ran a tone-deaf pre-convention campaign emphasizing the few millions he could bring to Utah when his mistakes have cost us billions. And now he refuses to graciously bow out and endorse whoever becomes the primary victor, instead threatening a write-in campaign. For 18 years he relied on Repiublican Party loyalty, but he now seems unwilling to reciprocate.

All of this to me only proves that state delegates made the right decision on Saturday. Bye bye, Bob.

I don't want Bennett. Still, he would be better than Lee or Bridgewater. I'm really in a quandry about how to handle the question of a write-in campaign for Bennett.

I do question 2 bits as Lieberman was not a write-in candidate. When he lost the Democratic primary he 'created' a third party, Connecticut for Lieberman. And is currently listed as an Independent Democratic.

I can't believe that Bob Bennett would run as a write-in candidate. He's a good man. Running as a write-in would make him look like a diehard sore loser, not someone who has the best interest of his state and his country at heart. It would be a selfish thing to do. And I really don't think he would win. Could he live with himself then?