Candidates make their pitches to party delegates.
Monday, April 9, 2012 | 1:07 p.m.
"By the time the state party conventions roll around April 21, delegates ... should know the candidates inside and out." In addition to "face time, incumbents and challengers slam them with phone calls, emails, Facebook requests, texts and tweets." Many candidates, especially in UT-04, "have taken to courting delegates over breakfast, lunch or dinner -- usually paid for by the candidates."
On a recent Wed., GOP delegate Quynn Udell "had 35 voice mails on his cellphone -- all from candidates. Most evenings his phone rings a dozen times."
Though party delegates "might have backed particular candidates" in last month's neighborhood caucuses, "they're not bound to vote for them at the party conventions. So the push is on to wine and dine the delegates, though always sans the wine. Without their support at convention, it's game over -- no advancing to a primary or a general election."
"Some candidates don't foot the bill for delegates, citing concerns it could appear they're trying to buy votes. Others avoid restaurants more as a cost-saving measure, preferring to meet in public places or private homes." Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love (R) recently held a delegate event at Einstein Bros Bagels, where she answered questions for more than an hour and then stuck around for those who wanted to chat one-on-one (Romboy/Roche, Deseret News, 4/9).
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