WASHINGTON — My junior high school civics teacher said people hoping to make a splash into politics need a sense of service, good ideas, solid speaking skills and a love of fellow man.
He left out the most important item, at least for new Utah congressional candidates: a fat pocketbook.
Financial disclosure forms for campaigns up to the party conventions this month show that most new candidates had to rely on war chests that largely came from their own savings accounts.
The reason is simple. Political activity committees of special interests and other major donor groups usually wait to see who wins a party's nomination (especially in crowded races like Utah's 1st and 2nd House districts) before they commit their money.
That way, they don't waste donations on too many losers.
Such big donor groups do not hesitate, however, to give to incumbents because that could win favor and access to office-holders and their votes now. Also, incumbents usually win — making donations to them a good long-term investment.
Look at how much some new-candidate survivors of Utah conventions funneled to their campaigns out of their own pockets — just to help sway a few hundred convention delegates.
In the 2nd District GOP race (to face incumbent Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah), political newcomer Tim Bridgewater provided $89,000 out of his own pocket — 81 percent of the $109,775 raised overall. (Fellow survivor John Swallow, a state legislator, provided a paltry $2,000 of his own, just 1.3 percent of $147,635 total raised).
In the 1st District GOP House race to replace retiring Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, Utah House Speaker Kevin Garn put in $35,654 of his own money (35 percent of $102,547 raised total). Fellow survivor Rob Bishop, a former house speaker, supplied $28,095 to his campaign (39 percent of the $72,566 total he raised).
In the 1st District Democratic House race, survivor Dave Thomas supplied $5,000 to his campaign — half of the $10,100 total he raised. (Fellow survivor Donald Dunn — a former candidate with strong ties to national party donors — gave to his campaign just $108 out of $44,393 total raised).
Some losers lost more than the convention — they lost hundreds of thousands of dollars among them.
The biggest loser, at least technically, was former Rep. Merrill Cook, R-Utah, who was attempting a comeback.
He spent $551,954 out of his own pocket. But most of that — $528,000 — went to a court-ordered settlement to a former campaign manager, so not much was left for this year's campaign.
Still, Cook had interesting strategy for the money that was left — figuring the best way to delegates' hearts was through their stomachs.
Cook spent $3,259 on 26 different "delegate dinners" to sway convention delegates at dining places ranging from the Bluebird Restaurant in Logan to the Chuck-A-Rama buffet in Salt Lake City to Butch Cassidy's Hideout in Circleville. Cook still finished only fourth at the convention.
Amounts funneled from other losers' wallets to their campaigns included: $65,758 by 2nd District Republican Steve Harmsen; $35,000 by 2nd District Republican Mark Crockett; $17,060 by 1st District Democrat Cole Capener; $13,405 by 2nd District Republican Gary Stephens; $11,250 by 1st District Democrat Bob Gross; $10,975 by 1st District Republican Vickie McCall; and $5,500 by 2nd District Republican Winston Wilkinson.
Of note, all those who survived conventions either outspent or at least matched spending of opponents — showing just how important money is, even if it comes from their own wallets.
All of that money listed was for conventions that may not even count.
If Utah wins a Supreme Court case contending that census counts improperly gave North Carolina an extra House seat instead of Utah, results of the convention will be voided.
Candidates would have to refile in differently drawn districts and new conventions held. And, yes, candidates would likely be forced to spend more of their own money again.
That means that civics teachers should probably start changing the job qualifications for potential members of Congress. They should note that the poor and lower middle class need not apply.
Deseret News Washington correspondent Lee Davidson can be reached by e-mail at lee@desnews.com