OREM — The three candidates elbowing each other to the finish line in the race to replace Chris Cannon as Utah's 3rd District congressman would have voted along with the majority of the House to reject the $700 billion bailout bill.
Republican Jason Chaffetz, Democrat Bennion Spencer and Constitutionalist Jim Noorlander declared their positions Wednesday night during a brisk one-hour debate at Utah Valley University that included each man handicapping the presidential race.
Spencer said he supported the new bill passed by the Senate Wednesday night while Chaffetz and Noorlander urged deeper changes instead of creating any kind of bailout for companies they said don't deserve to be saved by taxpayers.
Spencer surprised Chaffetz in one of the more colorful moments of the debate, which was televised live on UVU Channel 17. Spencer said he is for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
"Drill everywhere, I say," Spencer said, "but keep the oil here."
Afterward, Spencer said he is convinced that any oil drilled in ANWR would be exported instead of aiding the U.S. market.
"Even I wouldn't say drill everywhere," Chaffetz said with a startled laugh. "You were very critical of my proposal to drill in ANWR, but my plan is very eco-friendly."
Spencer said after the debate that he didn't think core Democrats would be upset by his position. He already said he disagrees with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on 30 percent of the issues and that the party has no problem with that. Spencer added that his position that Americans demand any oil drilled in ANWR stay in the United States would help take care of environmental concerns.
Wearing nearly matching blue suits, the three men remained cordial, rarely addressing each other directly. Included in a 3rd District debate for the first time this year, Noorlander thanked UVU for the invitation and asked Chaffetz and Spencer if they would agree to include him in all other debates. Both men agreed.
Chaffetz, former campaign manager and chief of staff for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., drew cheers from a large number of the nearly 200 in the audience when he said financial markets aren't under-regulated but that regulation was done poorly and called on President Bush to fire Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.
Responding to one of the 10 questions the candidates considered, most posed by the audience, Spencer said he had never hired an illegal immigrant. Chaffetz said he hadn't, to his knowledge. Noorlander, a roofing contractor, said someone he worked for once hired an illegal immigrant
"I have to be honest with you," Noorlander said. "I didn't know that. Once the job was finished, I told the gentleman he could no longer work for me. ... So I have employed an illegal immigrant, but never hired one."
Noorlander proposed a "liberty card" for illegals that all would have to apply for within six months. Once they had a card, which would help employers like him by creating a database, they could remain for four years. If caught without the card, they would be immediately deported. If they tried to return illegally, they would automatically spend seven years in a federal penitentiary.
Spencer challenged Chaffetz's tough stance on illegal immigration.
"We're not going to deport our way out of this problem," Spencer said.
Both men said Congress must streamline the immigration process to make visas and citizenship easier to obtain. Both also said the United States must secure its borders.
Spencer drew cheers for supporting a timeline for removing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, an idea Chaffetz and Noorlander rejected. Chaffetz and Noorlander attacked the use of earmarks by Congress while Spencer supported them as a good way for small states like Utah to fund important projects.
The candidates completed their closing statements early and were asked to take the remaining time to handicap the presidential race. Chaffetz and Noorlander said John McCain would win. Spencer said Obama would win by seven percentage points.
Spencer faces the tough task of winning as a Democrat in a state that is overwhelming expected to vote for the Republican ticket in the presidential race.
"Do not go out there and vote straight party," he said. "Our troops in Iraq deserve better than that."
Spencer, a former television reporter and news director, said the frustration of the people he talks to on the campaign trail led him to expect an Obama win.
"If I were to handicap this race I'd say (Noorlander would win)," Spencer said, "because people are just mad out there."
E-mail: twalch@desnews.com