July 8, 2002--
(Salt Lake City-AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney told Utah Republicans Thursday night that the nation will win the war on terrorism, the economy will rebound and judgeships will be properly awarded.
Cheney spoke at a 250 dollar-a-plate fund-raiser for second U-S House District candidate John Swallow at the Little America Hotel. Republican Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett and Governor Mike Leavitt also spoke.
Swallow's press secretary, Emily Christensen, did not know how much money Swallow garnered from the event.
Cheney said he and Bush receive daily briefings on national security that confirm the United States still faces threats from terrorist organizations.
Cheney said, "We will pre-empt serious threats to the country before they materialize. The United States will act and will defeat the enemies of freedom."
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Utah's Political Landscape
In less than three months,
Utah's political landscape
could change drastically.
Jim
Hansen, 22 years a
Congressman, is stepping
down, assuring a new Representative for Utah's First
District. Jim Matheson will try to keep his seat in the
Second District, but changes in the makeup of the
District will factor in heavily there.
And those changes
could make the Third District race interesting, with
Chris Cannon hoping to again represent voters there in
Washington.
With so much at stake, the big guns are being pulled
out early. Thursday, Vice President Dick Cheney
stumped here in Utah for Congressional hopeful, John
Swallow. Political Specialist Richard Piatt followed
the v.p. all day and has a report.
The Vice President's visit is an indicator of how
important this Congressional race is for Republicans.
And it's going to take big money to pull it off.
Candidate John Swallow was hoping to raise
a-quarter of a million dollars Thursday night.
Vice President Cheney came to Utah just to raise
money for John Swallow. And his popularity in Utah
paid off at $250 a plate. Will it pay off? Cheney thinks
so.
Vice President Richard Cheney: I
LOOK FORWARD COME NEXT JANUARY TO
WELCOMING JOHN SWALLOW AS A BRAND
NEW MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
But first, the race against Democrat Jim Matheson is
going to be expensive. Matheson has fellow
Democrats in the House giving him money from their
campaigns, more than $127,000 so far. Democrats
are hoping to take control of the House.
In Utah, the re-districted Second District is seen as
winable-- even with Matheson reporting more than
$850,000 in campaign funds so far.
John Swallow/(R) Candidate For
Congress: WE THINK THIS IS A
TARGETED RACE. AND THE NICE THING
ABOUT THE SWALLOW CAMPAIGN IS,
WE'VE RAISED MONEY RIGHT HERE IN
UTAH TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST
500-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
But money may not be all it takes. Critics wonder if
Cheney could be a liability by election day. Questions
remain unanswered about his connections with his
former firm, Halliburton, and about the stock market
decline.
Meghan Holbrook/Utah Democratic
Party: WE'RE IN A RECESSION,
JOBLESSNESS IS UP ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY, IT'S UP IN UTAH. PEOPLE
OUGHT TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT
THIS ADMINISTRATION.
Even as Cheney pushed the Bush administration's
energy policy, protestors outside picketed his visit.
Charles Johnson/Cheney Protester:
"OUR PROPOSAL TO INVADE IRAQ AND
OTHER PROPOSALS, OTHER THINGS THAT
ARE TAKING PLACE, ARE ALL DRIVEN BY
ENERGY POLICY, AND THAT'S JUST
WRONG."
Inside, Cheney was unfazed. He pledged record levels
of support for the military and the war on terror, more
tax breaks, and hope for the sluggish economy.
Vice President Richard Cheney: ON
THE ECONOMY, THERE IS STILL A GREAT
DEAL OF WORK TO DO, BUT WE BEGIN
FROM A POSITION OF TREMENDOUS
STRENGTH.
Cheney did not make himself available for questions,
and even some Republicans at this event openly
wonder when he will.
