This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Burwash for McAdams? Matheson statistically tied with GOP rivals. Hatch could escape primary.
Happy Friday (the 13th!). State Sen. Ben McAdams has a surprising endorsement in his race for Salt Lake County mayor, that of Richard Burwash. You might recall that Burwash was the fictional name created by WVC Mayor Mike Winder to write for the Deseret News and KSL, and McAdams thought it would be fun to include the name amongst several endorsements listed in a recent mailer. [UtahPolicy]
-> As Utah Policy's Bryan Schott reports, Winder thought it was funny, though preposterous: "That would be like Silence Dogood endorsing Benjamin Franklin's opponent, or Mark Twain rising up against Samuel Clemens!"
Topping the news: Rep. Jim Matheson's bid for the fourth congressional district may be challenging with GOP contenders Mia Love, Stephen Sandstrom and Carl Wimmer all pulling close numbers in a hypothetical matchups. [Trib]
-> As the presumptive Republican nominee, Mitt Romney faces renewed pressure to talk about his faith, and his campaign his debating the wisdom of such a decision. [CSMonitor]
-> A new poll, completed using 487 state delegates, shows Sen. Orrin Hatch edging near the 60 percent necessary for him to nab the nomination without a primary. [Trib]
-> A Utahn is the behind-the-scenes legal brain for Stephen Colbert's super PAC. [Trib]
Tweet of the Day: @natecarlisle: "#Libertarian AG candidate says he flipped off #TSA when pulled out of airport line for body scan. Big laughs from crowd."
Happy birthday: To Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins.
Tune in: ABC4's Chris Vanocur hosts On the Record with guests Bob Bernick and Robert Gehrke previewing the state conventions. 7:30 a.m. Sunday on Ch. 4.
Don't get Hatch mad: Hatch talks to NPR's Howard Berkes about his race and unloads on FreedomWorks: "These people are not conservatives. They're not Republicans. They're radical libertarians and I'm doggone offended by it. ... I despise these people, and I'm not the guy you come in and dump on without getting punched in the mouth." [NPR]
In other news: Gov. Gary Herbert is pushing Congress to block any attempt at legalizing home gambling, fearing it would be a slippery slope to the state allowing games of chance. [Trib]
-> The state may have violated federal law by not encrypting Medicare information on servers that were recently hacked. [Trib]
-> Candidates for the Democratic nomination for Senate in Utah decide that their real rival is Sen. Hatch, not each other. [Trib] [KCPW] [KSL]
-> Thomas Burr talks with KCPW's Jeff Robinson about this week's political news. [KCPW]
-> Factcheck.org looks at the claims by the pro-Hatch group Freedom Path against former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist. [HuffPost]
-> The ACLU is pushing to block a law allowing aimed at adding Internet safety limits to protect children from harmful online content out of concern that it restricts free speeech [APviaDNews], while the Utah judge is eager the get the matter settled. [DNews]
-> Utah — along with every state — saw a 7.5 percent increase with income tax return filings this year, pointing to the continued economic growth of the state. [Trib]
-> Lawmakers hop behind environmentalists and outdoor recreation enthusiasts to protect Desolation Canyon, where new drilling areas are being proposed. [Trib]
-> Provo is set to vote on whether the LDS Church has the right to buy a street next to the remains of the Provo Tabernacle. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly says the Democratic Party is infamously unorganized proves it with the county mayoral race. [Trib]
-> Schott and Bob Bernick discuss the county conventions, Mitt Romney's effect on Utah Democrats and Gov. Gary Herbert's positioning. [UtahPolicy]
-> Bernick breaks down some of the more interesting legislative races. [UtahPolicy]
-> With new lanes added, the $1.7 million construction of I-15 shifts to interchange work. [Trib]
-> Philadelphia Eagle Ifo Pili has been named Eagle Mountain's new city administrator. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley shares his take on navigating the swampy waters of the tax code. [Trib]
2012 Watch: MSNBC pundit Lawrence O'Donnell apologizes over comments he made about the Mormon church and Joseph Smith, saying he's sorry if anything he said was inaccurate. [ABC4] [Fox13] And Time magazine explores O'Donnell's false statement. [Time]
-> Newt Gingrich's financial situation is becoming more and more grim, having many wondering whether he can make a financial comeback. [WaPost]
-> Is Ron Paul's campaign almost on its death bed? [TheHill]
-> Vice President Joe Biden narrows his line of attack on Romney as the race continues to shift. [FoxNews]
-> Romney racks up two more conservative endorsements — National Right to Life and the Susan B. Anthony List. [CNN]
-> The Obama team celebrates the six year anniversary of "Romneycare," reminding the public that it was this system that inspired his Obamacare health care plan. [CBS]
Where are they?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz heads to a Salt Lake County Republican fund-raiser in the evening.
Gov. Gary Herbert goes to the Utah Real Estate Challenge awards banquet at Rice-Eccles stadium.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon attends a Board of Tourism retreat at the Desert Rose Inn in Bluff.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker hits the Utah League of Cities and Towns mid-year conference.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder attends the SL Co Republican Party fundraising dinner at the Salt Palace.
President Barack Obama travels to Tampa, Fla. to speak about the benefits of trade with Latin America then heads to Colombia where he spends the night.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
— Thomas Burr and Laura SchmitzTwitter.com/thomaswburr