This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It makes no difference whether or not vice presidential pick Rep. Paul Ryan helps Gov. Mitt Romney win Wisconsin, or if Ryan scares seniors in Florida, or even if this VP choice generates real discussion of the role of the federal government.
I offer this prediction: The results of the November elections will be based solely on how successful the Republican governors are in their voter-suppression efforts.
Far-fetched conspiracy theory? Do the names Katherine Harris (Florida, 2000) and Ken Blackwell (Ohio, 2004) ring a bell? If they do not, that proves how successful these efforts have been.
The Republicans' voter-suppression track record is well-established, but the evidence has been ignored by an apathetic and ignorant public and a Democratic Party that is incompetent or unwilling to defend the democratic process.
Marc Hoenig
Salt Lake City