At least that's the conclusion of political scientist Sean Theriault at the University of Texas, who found that representatives from small states can make a personal connection with voters, buck "anti-incumbent fever and stay in office longer.

"Typically, smaller states are less competitive. To practice retail politics in a smaller state is much easier."

Theriault probably ought to interview lame-duck Sen. Bob Bennett (no slouch at bringing home the pork.), former Rep. Chris Canon and targeted Sen. Orrin Hatch and draft a chapter called the "Utah Exception."

Think of it as trail riding. Some bicyclists, citing poor bike-lane maintenance, want Emigration Canyon tamed. Narrow, winding and rock-strewn, Salt Lake City's popular biking route has delivered injuries and deaths to the biking community over the years.

Apartheid Utah style. Archeologists from State University of New York at Potsdam are digging up Utah pioneer history in Skull Valley, and not all of it is pleasant. While German and Swiss Mormon converts were settled in familiar mountain valleys east of Salt Lake City, the church sent Polynesians immigrants into the alternately parched and snow-swept West Desert to found isolated Iosepa. Skull Valley, aptly named by the local Indians, was hardly a Pacific paradise.

Look for the union label. Conservative Congressman Jason Chaffetz has an unlikely source for campaign contributions: labor unions. The largest single source of Chaffetz cash comes from unions connected with the Postal Service. The reason is simple--Chaffetz is the top Republican on the subcommittee that overseas the financially troubled Post Office. Freshman Chaffetz seems to be getting comfortable with the ways of Washington.

“It seems like a reasonable amount. Actually, it seems a little low if you think about it.”