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Rep. Chris Cannon knows that when he walks into the state Republican convention on Saturday, he's got to come across as tough on illegal immigration.

More than soaring gas prices, more than No Child Left Behind's federal involvement in education - undocumented immigration has risen to the top of nearly every delegate's agenda. Besides selecting candidates this weekend, the 3,500 grass-roots party activists will debate a proposed amendment to the party's platform opposing "illegal immigration and all forms of amnesty or legal status for illegal immigrants."

Cannon's GOP opponents, businessman John Jacob and former U.S. Rep. Merrill Cook, hope the issue will be the five-term incumbent's undoing.

Cannon is dogged by a speech four years ago in which he said, "We love immigrants in Utah. We don't make distinctions between legal and illegal." The quote is widely disseminated on anti-immigration Web sites and earns bold type in anti-Cannon literature.

The congressman, who recently sent a videotape to each delegate explaining his stance on immigration, maintains the quote is out of context and bristles at allegations he has flip-flopped on the issue.

"Just 20 minutes ago, we voted on allowing the use of the military on the border," Cannon said from Washington, D.C., on Thursday. "I voted for it - as I have several times before. I've been very consistent on enforcing immigration law."

But a week ago, Cannon's campaign Web site failed to list immigration among 11 top campaign issues. This week, a revamped Web site includes a statement on immigration, beginning with, "Indeed, the time for action has come . . . "

Cannon's problems aren't helped by an anti-incumbent mood among delegates that was evident in Republican county conventions where several local officeholders were ousted or forced into primaries.

"There's definitely an anti-incumbent feeling and I absolutely agree with it," says Roy Chapman, a delegate from Tooele. "The White House, the Senate and the House are Republican-controlled. And yet our country is in a mess. We have to blame the people who are in there."

The solution to immigration is complex, Cannon maintains, certainly not as simple as rounding up undocumented workers and sending them back. "It is not entirely clear that our economy could withstand the loss of what has become an essential part of our national work force," he says. "We need plausible solutions to the challenge of illegal immigration, not simplistic rhetoric."

But Cook and Jacob argue that with some political backbone, the solution is fairly simple: Enforce the law, especially against employers who exploit undocumented workers.

"The anti-incumbent feeling settles on Cannon's record on illegal immigration and the difference between his rhetoric and his actions," says Cook. "The talk just doesn't match the walk."

Both challengers say the economy is being hindered by undocumented workers, not helped - especially in a state desperate for jobs that pay more than $10 an hour.

"Why not raise wages?" asks Jacob, a political novice who owns several businesses. "I'd rather pay more for a head of lettuce or a fast-food meal and have the jobs go to citizens or legal workers."

Allowing businesses to benefit from poorly paid undocumented workers is tantamount to slavery, Jacob says. "Why are we creating this subculture that, like in France, will burn our cars?"

Still, taking on any incumbent Republican in Utah is a formidable challenge. And Jacob is "somewhat of a greenhorn," says West Valley City delegate Bill Naylor.

And Cook, who served in the House from 1996 to 2000, has more experience losing his many races - nearly a dozen - than winning them. "My persistence is my strongest quality," he says.

Republican delegates meeting at the South Towne Center in Sandy also will be choosing candidates for legislative races. One of the most contentious promises to be private school vouchers champion Sen. Howard Stephenson's defense of his seat against Rep. Dave Hogue. Hogue, a supporter of public education, is giving up his House seat to take on Stephenson. The contest will be a microcosm of a statewide clash between public education advocates and private school supporters.

The state Democratic Convention also will be held Saturday, at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Insiders expect a fairly low-key state gathering, since few candidates have challengers.

The big exception is the race for House District 25, which covers parts of central Salt Lake City, the foothills and Summit County that is expected to go to a primary. Five challengers are vying for the party nomination for the seat Rep. Ross Romero vacated to run for state Senate.

The Democratic establishment agrees that Josh Ewing, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's former spokesman, is a leading candidate. Christine Johnson, a real estate agent, and teacher Joel Briscoe are considered strong candidates, too, said Wayne Holland, chairman of the Utah Democratic Party.

Another convention showdown pits a former state senator against a current one. Former Sen. Millie Peterson wants to get back into public office after being ousted in the wake of Republican-controlled redistricting in 2001. She is challenging incumbent Democratic Sen. Brent Goodfellow.

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Tribune reporter Matt Canham contributed to this report.