Utahns growing tired of Bennett

[ccharles000]

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."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705348498/Utahns-growing-tired-of-Bennett.html