Utah AG announces Bennett challenge sans Twitter

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff (R) officially announced Wednesday that he will challenge Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) in a primary in 2010.

Speaking to reporters in Salt Lake City, Shurtleff focused on Bennett’s three terms in the Senate and the anti-Washington sentiment that has rocked members of Congress in recent elections.

{mosads}“We thank you for your service,” Shurtleff said to Bennett. “You gave us 18 years of service. But that’s enough. The winds of change are blowing.”

Word of Shurtleff’s candidacy leaked last week when he inadvertently broadcast his decision over his Twitter account. Shurtleff was apparently unaware that his Tweets were being sent to his entire Twitter following.

The miscue came in the aftermath of former congressional candidate Tim Bridgewater’s announcement that he would be forming an exploratory committee for the race.

Before any primary takes place, though, Bennett, Shurtleff and Bridgewater will fight over delegates to the state nominating convention. At that convention, if a candidate receives 60 percent support, he or she is automatically granted the party’s nomination. If no candidate receives 60 percent through multiple ballots, the top two go to a primary.

Despite the primary, Republicans aren’t in much danger of losing the dark-red state in 2010. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) could make the race competitive, but he hasn’t shown any interest in running.