Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, has bought some interesting Internet site names, including ChaffetzForSenate.com.
He says that does not mean he is running for the Senate but that he is simply trying to stop others from buying such sites and posing as him. He said others have wreaked havoc with Twitter and Facebook sites with names similar to his.
"That happened on both Facebook and Twitter. It came and went real quick. But I thought for $15 (per site), I might as well grab some of these other ones so that they don't put something out pretending to be me," Chaffetz said. "I don't want to be extorted."
Does it also mean he has plans to run for the Senate?
"Absolutely not. It's my anti-smart-aleck strategy. It's my spending $100 to protect my name out there. It's nothing more than that," he said.
Some of the other site names that Chaffetz bought include ChaffetzForPresident.com and ChaffetzForGovernor.com. He says he doesn't plan to run for governor or president.
Still, Chaffetz says he has not yet made a final decision on whether to run for re-election to the House next year or to seek some other office. But, he said, "I'm very focused on the House. I like it there. I think we're making a difference."
He said he would "probably announce something after the first of the year" on what office he will seek. "There's no reason to do it before then."
But Chaffetz created some political waves last month when he said several GOP state convention delegates are urging him to challenge fellow Republican Sen. Bob Bennett, and Chaffetz refused to slam shut that possibility.
At that time, he said, "I don't have any intention of doing that," but, "I guess I like to keep my options open. Never say never."
He added he would not "close the door fully" to opposing Bennett because, in part, he has seen the sometimes frosty reception that Bennett and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, have received among generally conservative state delegates, while he says delegates cheer him.
Many others have already chosen to take on Bennett in a crowded field. In-party challengers include Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, businesswoman Cherilyn Eagar and small-business owner James Russell Williams III. Former congressional candidate Tim Bridgewater also is considering entering the contest.
Democrat Sam Granato also is a candidate.
e-mail: lee@desnews.com