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John Daley ReportingThe final election push is on in earnest for candidates running for office. John Daley tracked down a few of them this afternoon, some who were making the rounds on a Big Red Bus.
Every campaign is the final phases, gearing up their get out the vote efforts and looking to inspire their voters to go the polls. Case in point today, the Big Red Bus Tour. The "Magical Mystery Tour" this ain't. Instead, it's a modern day whistlestop in the reddest of all states.
Republican leaders hit a variety of stops around the Wasatch Front today in support of 2nd Distrcit Candidate Lavar Christensen. Joining him were Senator Orrin Hatch, Attorney General Mark Shurtlett, the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the Utah House and President of the Senate. Their message: Vote Red.
A new national poll finds Americans cite Iraq as the most important issue affecting their vote, with majorities of Republicans and Democrats saying they wanted a change in approach. Twenty percent said they thought the US was winning in Iraq, down from a high this year of 36 percent in January.
Lavar Christensen, (R) Candidate for 2nd District: "Even at one of our whistlestops today, another soldier, a purple heart winner that just came to me and said, as so many have, said 'Lavar, the war that we're fighting over there is just not the war that we're seeing on the American media.' And I'm so proud of what they've accomplished."
Rep. Jim Matheson, 2nd District Incumbent: "I do think what we to do now is get away from simplistic dialogue, when we say it's either stay the course or gotta run. Neither of those choices are good choices. We need to find a strategy for success, and to do that we've got to set aside political rhetoric, have an honest discussion of what's working and not working, and develop that strategy."
Jim Matheson's office was a beehive of activity today too, with people manning phones and getting ready to distribute fliers.
Both candidates are predicting victory on Tuesday, though the most recent polls show Matheson with a comfortable lead.
