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Sam Granato on Principles & Values
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Utahns choice is mainstream candidate vs. extreme candidate
Granato charged that Lee is too extreme for Utah as a darling of the tea party. But Lee said most Utahns cheer his push to return to constitutionally limited government."Utahns have a real opportunity this year to either elect a mainstream candidate
or an extreme candidate," Granato said.Lee said that his views match Utahns who "are reclaiming their right to constitutionally limited government. We have to focus on limiting the size, scope, reach and power of the federal government."
Source: Salt Lake Tribune coverage of 2010 Utah Senate debate
Sep 17, 2010
Practicing Mormon & successful small-business owner
It's easy to write off Democratic candidates in Utah. But attorney and constitutionalist Mike Lee is the Republican nominee, after a rough primary that forced Lee to stake out the far right of the political spectrum. That leaves a gaping hole in the
political center that could be fertile ground for the moderate Granato, who possesses many desirable attributes for a statewide race: He's a practicing Mormon, a successful small-business owner with some name recognition and a native of the state who gre
up in Bountiful and went to school in Cedar City.When asked about his religious background, however, he says that he "grew up in a family with a lot of dynamics." He was brought up a Mormon by his mother, whose ancestors came from Ireland to Utah with
Brigham Young and helped settle areas in southern Utah at Young's direction. His father, Frank Granato, however, was "an inactive Catholic but very active Italian," and, thus, proud of his Catholic heritage. He also was an influential Democrat.
Source: J.Loftin in Salt Lake City Weekly, "Desperately Seeking Sam"
Aug 4, 2010
Few issues? "I do things, instead of say things"
One of the main complaints about Granato as a candidate: He sticks to friendly faces and supportive crowds. [His current opponent is] not the only person to criticize Granato for his lack of strong positions. In the run-up to the state convention, where
Granato defeated Christopher Stout, the delegates who did support Stout applauded his convictions while dismissing Granato's platform as hollow.The criticism remains valid. Even at the end of July, his campaign
Website only listed three issues--health-care reform, Wall Street reform and job creation--and, in all three, Granato basically says "there's a problem" without offering any solutions.
That safe approach for
Granato comes across while watching Granato talk to people. When challenged about his work ethic or questioned about his stance on a particular issue, he will often respond with a joke, or a platitude like "I do things, instead of say things."
Source: J.Loftin in Salt Lake City Weekly, "Desperately Seeking Sam"
Aug 4, 2010
Let Lee talk issues; his extreme positions will scare voters
Granato will focus on moderate Republicans. "Sam doesn't win this race with Democrats," a campaign spokesperson said. "A lot of Republicans are nauseated by their candidate. Those are the people Sam will be talking to."
Another aspect of the campaign strategy is to let Lee talk about the issues, because his "extreme" positions will scare most voters.
Granato, on the other hand, will continue to emphasize that he will be a senator of the people, instead of a senator of ideology. "The campaign isn't issues only, nor should it be. It's about the candidates as human beings, because you're electing
a person to back and represent you. Sam is somebody you can trust," the spokesperson says.
Watching him campaign, it appears that he's simply having fun being a candidate and hates it when somebody ruins it with politics.
Source: J.Loftin in Salt Lake City Weekly, "Desperately Seeking Sam"
Aug 4, 2010
Page last updated: Nov 27, 2010