Stout for Senate 2010

I appreciate all of you who supported me with your vote at the convention on Saturday. You made a difference. Your vote was heard, not only by me, but by those in the party who believe in pre-determined nominations.  In three and a half months, you took the campaign from a grassroots beginning to a force within the party.

I spoke to many delegates and others right after the vote and again after the results announcement. I’ve also received an overwhelming number of emails from you since Saturday. Your message to me has been clear: stay involved! Well, let me tell you that I am listening.

In the coming months I will be working to get Democrats elected this November. I’ve offered help to races in both fundraising and speaking engagements. Together we can make a difference and together we can get Democrats elected in Utah.

I ask that you take a moment and donate $10 or $15 to my campaign in order help reduce some of the expenses that I have personally paid over the last several weeks. It will go a long way. While you’re at it, visit Stout Supporters for Peter Corroon and donate $25 – Peter is our best chance at winning the governor’s office in quite awhile and he needs our financial support.

Thanks again for all your support!

My campaign began January 23, 2010. My intent has always been to take this race to delegates with solid, concrete solutions. I have done the work talking to thousands of delegates in person, telephone and email . I’ve attended events and as many county conventions as I could in the limited time I had. I’ve even managed to obtain some endorsements — even well known Utahn who will nominate me tomorrow.

This is a Senate campaign. Doing the work means that people know where you are on issues and how you plan to tackle the most difficult problems facing the country. Doing the work means coming up with solutions and being able to lead. Doing the work means meeting your opponents head on. Delegates know where I stand and they know what I want to do.

I have stated this before: A candidate who has been in race for almost a year should have a million dollars in the bank, a good base of volunteers and should be able to tell you where he stands on the issues. Sam Granato fails on all three counts. I believe that it is because he has not done the work that is crucial for anyone who intends to serve as a U.S. Senator and that is to offer real, concrete solutions and direction for the state and the country. Only being able to summarize the problem shows a lack of vision. A true leader, a true visionary is able to see the problems as well as the solution. That’s doing the work.

I will not waste the opportunity given me. I realize that much work needs to be done after tomorrow. I am ready to win in November and will do the work necessary to accomplish that goal.

When I was down in Delta for the Millard County Convention, an interesting discussion ensued about how to build the once prominent party in the county. Ed Phillips gave an impassioned speech that the group needed to do something to get young people involved. Ed, incidentally, was newly elected as the county party chairman. It’s tough to see something that you have so much pride in wither away because the current generation isn’t involved. Yet involvement is key to the success and survival of the party in Utah.

As I have been stating since January, the most likely candidate to emerge from the Republican convention will be Mike Lee. Recently, the number two, Tim Bridgewater, has also emerged. While there is a possibility that Bennett can overtake Bridgewater, the polls indicate that it will be a difficult task. We have a chance to do something for the first time in 18 years and that is to pursue an open Senate seat. Again, involvement is the key to success.

During the Obama campaign, I was disappointed that our volunteer effort here in Utah was being used in states other than Utah. To me, it said that Utah is a “lost cause” when it comes to building support among Democrat candidates. It is time to stop this defeatist attitude. We need to take seriously our responsibility to build the party. I believe that the key to winning the U.S. Senate seat is involvement. My campaign is committed to building the party through interpersonal connections one voter at a time and not necessarily through party officials. While those are important, and I do intend to keep building relationships within the party, they do not overcome the frustrations that Ed Phillips spoke about.

I believe that the best way to build candidate and party recognition is at the grass roots level. We need to focus on independents, moderate Republicans, and unregistered voters. We need a voter registration drive and a voter “head” count. We need to find out what those in the voter precincts are really thinking. This is going to require us to go door to door. This is going to require involvement at all levels. We need to understand the issues that drive these voters — not through polls but through interpersonal connections. Not only will my Senate campaign benefit from this, but every candidate in the state will.  

I’ve always like the question, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer, of course, “One bite at a time”.  The real problem, however, is that we need to start trying to eat the elephant rather than complaining about the size of it. I’m accepted the size of the elephant for dozens of years. Now it’s time to start taking bites, and I intend to do it one voter at a time and one issue at a time.

Since I announced in January, I have been offering my thoughts on the Republican nominee. Many have believed that Senator Bennett would make it out of convention –without the nomination but would win the primary. I’ve had my doubts since Mike Lee entered the race. I’ve paid attention to the chatter on the blogs and have participated in several key debates with all the Republican challengers, with the most recent one at UVU in Orem on April 2nd. That one was important because Senator Bennett participated. It was announced that 130 Republican delegates were in attendance. The straw poll that was taken placed Bennett 5th, with Mike Lee placing 1st with nearly 50%. I placed a respectable 7th — ahead of the three of the lesser known Republican challengers. At the Davis County Republican Convention nearly 500 delegates were polled and Bennett came in third. Most recently, 1,000 Republican delegates statewide were polled and Bennett came in third again. Those delegates when asked about a second choice, Bennett came in third again. Third place means there will be a new Senator in November.

I believe that Mike Lee will be the eventual Republican nominee. I am the only candidate that will be able to win support from moderate Republicans and Independents in November.  I have contacted our party delegates by email and by telephone to explain my vision to move Utah and the nation forward. Increasingly, I have been contacted by those participating in the party for the first time — attending caucus and conventions. They are excited to hear that my campaign has substance and not rhetoric. Voters respond to substance. I have taken solid positions on jobs, the economy, and reducing the debt — and I have since announcing my candidacy.  I have been running a campaign aimed at delegates — those who represent the average voters and, ultimately those who will decide who will be the nominee. The substance of my campaign stands up in November while other candidates are still trying to figure theirs out.

Here it is April 1, 2010 and Sam Granato has been pursuing the nomination for 9 months. We don’t know what his message is and we don’t know what he wants to accomplish as Senator. He’s taken no stand on the important issues of the day – the economy, jobs, the debt or the deficit. His website is still devoid of any inkling that he has any ideas. Today, I’m beginning to wonder if Granato’s campaign is one big April fool’s joke on Utah’s Democrats.

My campaign is nearly 10 weeks old. I have taken positions on every important issue that faces Utah and the nation. I’m a lifelong Democrat native Utahn who loves my country and who loves Utah. I’m not a politician, but an accountant who is self-employed. In November when I made the decision to seek elective office, I did so because of the health care debate. I wanted to let Utahns know that there are reasonable, rational candidates out there who understands the issues. My decision to run was in part due to the lack of information about Sam and his positions. Had he taken a strong stand on issues, I would not have run.

I have been told by many prominent members of the party that they like my ideas and could support me – after I win the nomination.  They tell me that because they have supported Sam, they can’t really support me openly or financially.  Sam Granato has not won the nomination. This is not a de facto appointment – even though many believe that to be the case because he has name recognition and can raise money. This, however, is far from the case. He’s been unable to raise money here in Utah and is looking for outside sources, in part because his organization and message is extremely poor. I personally contacted more than 600 delegates. Not very many of them knew who Sam Granato was. Some did, most did not. Anyone with money and message can get name recognition. Sam has neither. I have one and the ability to get the other.

So far, Sam seems to be running on the fact that so many have endorsed him – most of which were obtained before I announced. Some of those making endorsements have privately indicated to me that they made a mistake. Endorsements are never a substitution for taking a stand on issues.  Recently he has stated that he will be “Utah’s Salesman” to bring more money to the state. As one who is fiscally responsible, it has been this line of thinking that has put the country in the mess that it is in today. We need leadership and direction – not a “Salesman”.  I want to be partners with Utahns, not their salesman.  I want to lead on issues that directly affect Utahns. As Senator, I will provide leadership not trying to meet a sales goal.

I’ve been criticized because I haven’t raised enough money. First, my strategy is to win the nomination at convention through a common sense approach to open, honest and frank discussion with delegates. Second, my campaign is ten weeks old. I can’t be expected to have amassed a small fortune in donations – especially when the party has an anointed candidate. However, it brings to light the Grand Paradox of the Utah Democratic Party: We don’t donate money unless we think the candidate can win and we don’t think the candidate can win unless the campaign has money.

My advice to the delegates, donors, and party officials: Get behind the candidate that has the best interests of Utah in mind and the ability to move the party in the right direction. Get behind the candidate who wants to lead. My advice to those not willing to support me because they don’t want to cross party officials: Take a stand. I will support you and defend you. Do the right thing.