Sean Hannity Says Utah Voters Can Influence Outcome of House

In the final hours before Election Day, conservative radio host Sean Hannity took a break from preaching on his nationally syndicated talk show to preach to the choir in Salt Lake City. Hannity spoke to an intimate crowd at the half-filled Capital Theater, heralding the virtues of being a "blood-red conservative" to folkes in flannel shirts and camoflauge hats. Hannity appeared to have chosen the God-fearing Republican mecca of Utah over more volatile states like Ohio or Pennsylvania to ensure an all-Republican entourage from Utah in the House of Representatives. Despite Utah's overwhelming conservative presence, one incumbant up for re-election is a Democrat, James Matheson.

Matheson, a fiscally conservative "Blue Dog" liberal, has held enough clout from his family ties to Congress and Mormon background to have served three consecutive terms. Each race has come down to the wire, however, and this year's battle with Republican candidate LaVar Chistensen appears to be no different. Republicans have a particularly keen eye on the race as they fight to maintain majority control of Congress. Hannity told Utahns that they could make the difference between a Democratic or Republican controlled House, emphasizing that the race to oust Matheson could come down to a single vote. Hannity bolstered a religious connection with the crowd, suggesting that the struggle between Republicans and Democrats went beyond politics. "It's a battle between good and evil," Hannity said. "Right and wrong."

Such strong verbage was to be expected from the outspoken talk show host, but the heavily religious crowd only clapped and nodded with enthusiasm. Hannity's radical reputation itself garnered little opposition, inspiring no protestors and few vocal Democrats in the audience. In the end, Hannity's talk was more of a feel-good conservative pep rally than a persuasive campaign speech. He even included a number Jeff Foxworthy-like cracks beginning, "You know you're a Democrat if;" the punch lines covered everything from favoring lax national security to paying more taxes.

The casual atmosphere and small crowd may not have provided enough fuel for Hannity to influence the outcome of Tuesday's election, even with appearances at the event by Senator Orin Hatch and Christensen himself. But if any Republican egos had been deflated by liberal criticism this election season, the conservative blood pumping through the auditorium surely provided a confidence rush for the final push toward the ballots.