Utahns gear up for Demo primary
One-third plan to vote; Kerry, Edwards focusing elsewhere
Copyright 2004 Deseret Morning News
By Lisa Riley Roche
Deseret Morning News
The first real showdown between the two major candidates remaining in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination will take place Tuesday in three states, including Utah.
But neither Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts nor Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina is investing a lot in what might as well be "Forgotten Tuesday." That's frustrating Utah Democrats who were hoping that their primary election would have national impact.
"I've got to admit I'm a little discouraged," said Salt Lake County Councilman Joe Hatch, who's the spokesman for the Kerry campaign here. "What I'm hearing in the national press is that Utah, Idaho and Hawaii don't exist."
About one-third of the Utahns surveyed for a new Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll said they plan to vote in Tuesday's primary. Of those questioned on Feb. 19 by Dan Jones & Associates, 49 percent back Kerry. Only 23 percent said they're likely to vote for Edwards.
Kerry said he's taking Utah's primary election on Tuesday "very seriously" even if he isn't going to make a campaign stop here.
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