The Club for Growth vs. Robert Bennett

The small government PAC, which has been blasting Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah) for months over his compromises with Democrats, is officially going in for his defeat.

“Bob Bennett is out of touch with the times and with his state, and Utah Republicans have better choices for their candidate in November,” Club President Christ Chocola said.

“Our extensive research into the race suggests Utah Republicans already understand this, as they have begun rallying around several viable and superior candidates,” he continued. “The Club for Growth PAC is committed to seeing one of them defeat Bennett either at the nominating convention in May or in a primary election in June.”

The “nominating convention” is key — in Utah, even incumbents needs to win over activists at a right-leaning convention the month before their primary. Rep. Chris Cannon’s (R-Utah) defeat in 2008, at the hands of Jason Chaffetz, came first because activists who tired of Cannon’s support for immigration reform booted him at the convention. It’s a much more low-risk campaign for the Club than, say, intervening in Pennsylvania.