Why isn't Rocky Anderson running for Senate?

[ProSense]

Yeah, I know he's running for President, but there is a Utah seat is up for grabs. Anderson was former Mayor of Salt Lake.

The Republicans could pull Huntsman.

Next for Huntsman: Senate bid? Romney Cabinet? 2016?
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/huntsman/53308861-188/huntsman-romney-former-utah.html.csp

Still, imagine a progressive Senator from Utah.

Still, Anderson could win in Utah. Hatch is vulnerable.

[mike_c]

1. just a guess as I don't live in Utah...

...or follow Utah politics closely, but it's my general impression that Rocky has a better chance of being elected president than winning a senate seat in Utah, notwithstanding his having been mayor of Salt Lake City (or maybe because of it, LOL). On the other hand, even a progressive mayor of SLC is kind of surprising, frankly.

[Hamlette]

2. he couldn't win

Rocky is an atheist and very left wing. While Salt Lake is liberal, the rest of the state is not and is very mormon. Only one non-mormon democrat has won state wide office in Utah in decades (Jan Graham, AG, but it was a fluke. While she was great, she was running against an incumbent (Wilkenson) who was insane.

Although they talk about Huntsman be popular and "liberal" he was more moderate than others but there was a big backlash against him when he left to join the Obama admin. The legislature that year took great delight in undoing anything Huntsman had done. He's no longer very popular here. Huntsman couldn't get through a GOP primary in Utah. (Think: Mike Lee who won the GOP primary last time against a ever so slightly moderate Bennett. They hate Bennett who is very conservative but not mean about it.

[ProSense]

4. I'm

Rocky is an atheist and very left wing. While Salt Lake is liberal, the rest of the state is not and is very mormon. Only one non-mormon democrat has won state wide office in Utah in decades (Jan Graham, AG, but it was a fluke. While she was great, she was running against an incumbent (Wilkenson) who was insane.

...trying to understand how a city with about a third of Utah's population is so left leaning, the current mayor of Salt Lake County (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Corroon) is also a Democrat, and exists in a state that keeps returning Hatch to the Senate.

Anderson's successor is also a Democrat.

In November 2009, Becker signed into law the most progressive non-discrimination ordinances ever seen in the state of Utah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Becker_(Utah)

[LAGC]

7. The problem is, outside the SLC belt-way, the rest of the state is SUPER red.

We're talking like 80% Republican. The magnitude of Republican-leaning sentiment simply dwarfs anything the urban area can put out...

[Common Sense Party]

3. Have you ever lived in Utah?

Anderson has less than zero chance of winning in Utah.

[MFrohike]

5. Probably true

I figure that's still better odds than his presidential run.

[Common Sense Party]

6. I'd say you're right.

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oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong shot.