Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT) is facing the increasingly likely prospect of a primary opponent in his 2010 re-election bid. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff told CQ Politics on Thursday that he is “definitely considering” a race against the three-term senator.
Utah has a unique primary process that could give more influence to conservative party activists who are already upset at Bennett for his role in the original TARP bailout. The state party convention will hold a vote at their annual convention; if any candidate receives 60% of the vote, he or she becomes the nominee. If not, voting continues until there are only two remaining candidates, who will then compete in a statewide primary.