This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 3:47 PM- The Republican Party establishment, which took a few shots from 3rd District candidate Jason Chaffetz earlier in the campaign, is now embracing Chaffetz following his defeat of Rep. Chris Cannon in a June primary.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. endorsed Chaffetz on Wednesday, praising his "tenacity." And Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, who backed Cannon during the primary, will host a Washington fundraiser for Chaffetz next week.
"At the end of the day, Republicans need to come together, and this takes us one step further in that direction," Chaffetz said of the endorsements. "We're all Republicans. We disagree on some issues, but we've got to beat the Democrats come November, so I very much appreciate their support. I need it."
Huntsman spent the primary campaign on the sidelines, even though Chaffetz ran Huntsman's campaign for governor and was his chief of staff during much of the governor's first year in office.
"As a member of Congress, Jason's dogged tenacity will serve the people of Utah well," Huntsman said in a statement Wednesday. "Jason has worked determinedly in his public service. His dedication and ability to dive into hard issues will be a formidable addition to Utah's congressional delegation."
But during his speech at the state Republican Convention in May, Chaffetz got loud applause by taking a shot at the governor's stance on climate change.
"Jon Huntsman, as much as I like you, you're wrong on global warming. It's a farce," Chaffetz said, as Huntsman and his family stood just off-stage.
Chaffetz has also disagreed with Bennett and Hatch on congressional earmarks, immigration and, in Hatch's case, with his vote for the No Child Left Behind education reform.
He ran his campaign as an outsider, who wanted to change the status quo in Washington, arguing "if we want different results, we have to elect different people."
But his opponent, Democrat Bennion Spencer, said the voters he's talked to during the campaign want to see change in Washington, and the endorsements prove Chaffetz isn't serious about making that happen.
"He's already changed. He's already become just like them," he said.
"It's amazing how Hatch and Bennett can completely change their political perception of Chaffetz in three weeks," Spencer said. "Party is more important than character to them."
In addition to Bennett and Hatch, the $1,000 per person fundraiser is being hosted by Rep. Rob Bishop; prominent D.C. lobbyist Bill Simmons, a Utahn who represented the state for two years; and the National Rifle Association.
Chaffetz said he has been a member of the NRA for about a year and has a concealed weapons permit. He owns a Glock 23 and a 12-gauge shotgun. He doesn't consider himself a hunter, but said sportsmen make up an important part of his constituency.