Republican Senate hopeful Brent Ward says it's easy for fellow Republican contender Joe Cannon to repudiate contributions from political-action committees - he's rich.
"It's a little bit phony, frankly, Joe," Ward said as the two spoke to a small crowd at Salt Lake City's Jewish Community Center this week. "For you to bad-mouth PACs is a little like the pot calling the kettle black because for several years . . . you've been a walking, talking, living, breathing one-man PAC of your own."Cannon, chairman of the board of Geneva Steel, has been a large contributor to political campaigns. He has challenged the other candidates in the race to refuse money from special-interest groups.
"This will be an expensive race," Cannon said. "To think it's not going to be expensive is sort of silly," he said.
He said Republicans must buy enough publicity to offset the name recognition of the leading Democratic contender, Rep. Wayne Owens.
"Does that mean you should vote for a millionaire?" he asked. "No."