Oct. 30, 2000--
It's the fourth time in a week a face-off between candidates for Utah's Third Congressional District has failed to take place,
though Chris Cannon sent a surrogate on one occasion.
News Specialist Charles Sherrill reports from our Washington bureau on what's going on.
Congress intended to adjourn three weeks ago so incumbents could devote a month to full time campaigning.
Because of a clash with President Clinton they're
still in session, allowing them to look dedicated to duty,
but inviting challengers to suggest they're ignoring the voters.
Donald Dunn: "NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS WOULD I HAVE THOUGHT THAT CHRIS WOULDN'T CARE SO
MUCH."
Donald Dunn accuses
Chris Cannon of ducking debates.
Chris Cannon, Congressional Candidate: "I BELIEVE IN DEBATES. I NEED TO BE THERE TO DO THE DEBATES."
But in the age of satellites and cell phones, Dunn feels Cannon is basically brushing him off.
"IT'S NOT FAIR TO SAY THAT WE'RE BRUSHING HIM OFF. WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF DEBATES."
Not if they keep getting canceled.
"PEOPLE HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF US."
Dunn points to his opponent's campaign spending as more evidence of his indifference.
Donald Dunn: "YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GUY WHO SPENT ALMOST THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN HIS LAST CAMPAIGNS COMBINED. IN THIS RACE HE HAS $1,700 CASH ON HAND AND ISN'T DOING MUCH."
Not so, says Cannon.
"THE COST, THE FACT THAT I'M NOT FOCUSING ON MONEY AND RESPONDING TO HIS ADS DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T TAKE THIS RACE VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY."
He says he's relying heavily on the internet to communicate with voters:
Chris Cannon: "TIMES HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT AND THE COST OF CAMPAIGNING HAS GONE DOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE THE INTERNET. SO WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE MUCH MORE INTENSELY THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE."
Dunn is also in the cyber race.
But Cannon has a House web site, one of many incumbent advantages.
"THE WAY WE'LL WIN THIS ELECTION IS JUST SHEER GUTS AND HARD WORK."
Charles Sherrill, Eyewitness News: "CANNON SAYS HE SO FAR DOESN'T FEEL THREATENED. BUT HE HAS PLENTY OF
PERSONAL CASH HE COULD STILL SPEND SHOULD THE NEED ARISE. CHARLES SHERRILL, EYEWITNESS NEWS, WASHINGTON."
Both Dunn and Cannon are scheduled to appear in a live debate on Thursday, right here on KSL.
