SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday there's no reason for his fellow Republicans to question U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett's conservative credentials, but he stopped short of saying the three-term incumbent should be re-elected.Bennett has come under a growing amount of criticism from some Republicans who contend he isn't conservative enough, primarily because of his support of a bailout of the nation's banks.
But Herbert said during the taping of his monthly KUED news conference that attacks on Bennett's Republicanism are unfounded and Bennett is in no way a liberal. He said the senator has been caught up in an anti-incumbent sentiment.
"I don't think there's reason to question his conservatism or his Republicanism. I think it's a reflection of the frustration of Washington, D.C., as a whole," Herbert said. "I think by any measurement he's certainly right of center."
Bennett is seeking a fourth term and is facing seven challengers from within his own party.
The Republican convention is in May. If any candidate fails to get 60 percent of delegate votes after several rounds of voting, the top two candidates will face off in a June primary.
Bennett hasn't faced a primary since he was first elected in 1992, but he's preparing for one this year. Meanwhile, his opponents are hoping to knock him out of the race at the state convention, where fundraising ability is less important.
Whoever wins the GOP nomination likely faces an easy path to victory in conservative Utah. A Democrat from Utah hasn't been elected to the U.S. Senate since 1970.
Herbert said Bennett is a good friend who has served the state well, but his support for the state's junior senator stopped there.
"I'm staying out of the Senate race," he said. "They're all the best and brightest."
Seconds later, Herbert criticized Bennett for one of his bipartisan health care proposals, which would have required all Americans to buy insurance. He said that mandate is unconstitutional.
"It doesn't matter if its proposed by a Republican or a Democrat, if its unconstitutional, its unconstitutional. This overreach by the federal government ought to cause us all the heebie-jeebies," Herbert said.
On Tuesday, Utah joined 12 other states in suing the federal government over the landmark health care overhaul passed by Democrats in Congress.
One of Bennett's biggest critics is the conservative Club For Growth, which has aired commercials criticizing Bennett for his health care proposal.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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