Over a month after Utah Republicans chose two grassroots primary candidates to run for senate over incumbent senator Bob Bennett, a political soap opera uncharacteristic of the Beehive State continues. The two Republicans face off next Tuesday in a primary.
One of those candidates, lawyer Mike Lee, fell from certain grace two days before the May 8 convention when delegates received an offensive mailer touting Lee’s Mormon values in opposition to Bennett’s Washington insider status—the sort of mix of religion and politics that is taboo in Utah. Lee had been ahead of businessman Tim Bridgewater going into the convention (Bennett by far had the least support among the three), but the so-called “temple mailer” lost Lee the support of many delegates and gave Bridgewater a majority on the third ballot.
Lee denied his campaign or his supporters circulated such self-damaging material, and it was soon discovered to have been the work of Tim Stewart, a former aide to Bennett and a registered Washington lobbyist. Though some of Lee’s supporters have accused Bridgewater of being involved in sending out the mailer, Lee won’t say whether or not he believes Bridgewater was involved. “I’ve called for an FEC investigation,” Lee says. “I’ve also called upon Mr. Bridgewater and Sen. Bennett to demand to Tim Stewart that he identify the names of his accomplices.”
Bridgewater’s campaign has repeatedly denied their involvement. “I didn’t even know Tim Stewart until almost two weeks after the convention process,” Bridgewater says. “We actually gave his check back once we learned he had done that mailer.”
Bridgewater says voters don’t welcome Sen. DeMint’s entry into Utah politics. “He’s put himself in this campaign in a way that is driving voters away from his endorsed candidate and to my campaign, and so I appreciate that,” Bridgewater says.
“Senator DeMint believes that Tim Bridgewater is a good man and trusts he had nothing to do with this smear against Mike Lee,” says a spokesman for Sen. DeMint in response. “The Senator hopes all the facts will ultimately come out so those responsible are held accountable and so it never happens again.”
On the issues, both Lee and Bridgewater seem to have few differences. Both speak about reducing government spending and challenging the status quo in Washington, and both have support from local Tea Party groups.
