Dell "Super Dell" Schanze is ringing up 2,500 voters a day with an auto-dial message that at one time called his opponent, Jon Huntsman Jr., an "anti-Christ socialist" and alleges the Republican governor is suppressing technology that would allow cars to run on water.
"It's not name-calling. It's just stating a fact," Schanze said. "Those who do not follow Christ's principles are anti-Christ. . . . Jon Huntsman Jr. is anti-Christ. People don't realize that because he's portrayed completely falsely in the media."
Schanze said Huntsman has raised taxes, signed laws to restrict freedom and failed to stop abortions or stand up for gun rights.
In the call, Schanze says there are only three choices for governor, " 'Super Dell' Schanze, a real American," and Bob Springmeyer, the Democrat, who Schanze claims said he "doesn't care about the Constitution."
"Then there's the anti-Christ socialist Huntsman, who has raised taxes more than any governor in the history of Utah," the recording says, "and he's taken away more of your freedoms than any governor in the history of Utah.
"We also need to get Huntsman's thumb out of our gashole, because, guess what, all of our cars will run on water," Schanze continues. "I know. My friend has run his four-stroke Weed Eater completely on water."
Schanze explained that he has since re-recorded the ad to remove the "anti-Christ" statement, because people might misinterpret it.
Huntsman's campaign was unwilling to engage Schanze.
Spokeswoman Lisa Roskelley said the Republican governor "will continue to work on the important issues for Utahns."
But is Huntsman an "anti-Christ socialist"?
"I'm not going to answer that," she said.
Springmeyer said he didn't want to dignify Schanze's statements with a response, but the Democrat emphasized that he absolutely believes in the Constitution and looks forward to swearing to protect it when he becomes governor.
Schanze said the call was set up by his supporters; he just recorded the message, which has been going out to about 2,500 people a day for the past 10 days.
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* THOMAS BURR contributed to this story.
