Mediaboss Marketing

Want to learn how to head off an embarrassment in the Utah Republican Convention when you really believe your man will be booed by upwards of 4,000 hard-core delegates?

You organize your mans appearance very carefully. And you make all kinds of preemptive plans.

That was done by Sen. Orrin Hatchs staff and presumed 2018 campaign manager Dave Hansen at the South Towne Convention Center on Saturday.

Hatch was not booed in the convention. So success!

Well, mostly. But therein lies a tale.

Likewise, GOP Gov. Gary Herbert, for different reasons than Hatchs, was worried about a hostile reception in the before the delegates.

But in the end, both men were met with polite applause but little else.

Hatchs anti-booing plans were the more elaborate than Herberts, that was clear.

UtahPolicy prides itself in showing politicos how the art of politics and campaigning can be managed and behind the scenes in the Hatch case Saturday that was done well.

Not so much with Herbert, but the governor still avoided catcalls.

Heres what they did for Hatch:

Some delegates werent even in the hall yet, but all present were fresh-faced, and not angered by time and/or fights over rules and other stupid stuff.

Then, out comes Hatch, now 83 years old, with just a slight stumble at the top of the stairs.

And there were no boos none. But only a few delegates in the hall stood as most gave polite applause, others sitting on their hands.

Behind Hatch came San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman, who went to jail briefly for fighting federal overlords and land bosses who got more cheers than did Hatch.

Hatch then gave Lyman a signed copy of Trumps national monument investigation order which could lead to the scaling down or even rescinding of the Obama-created Bears Ears National Monument.

And Hatch then walked from the stage he didnt give a speech, probably the first time that has happened in the half-century Hatch has been coming to Utah state GOP conventions.

So success Hatch is not booed, although he wasnt roundly cheered, either.

Herbert faced, possibly, even more hostile faces.

But the temporary convention chair helped out Herbert.

Current Utah national committeeman Thomas Wright, who is also a past state party chair, conducted the meeting -- as (now former) state chair James Evans was running for re-election and so couldnt chair the convention as he normally would.

And Wright, a personal friend of Herberts, came through for the governor by listing many of the governors and Utahs successes over the last eight years before asking Herbert to walk on stage and address the delegates.

It worked. I mean, how can you boo a guy after the master of ceremonies recounts Utahs low unemployment rate, great business climate and leading state economy?

Still, Herberts support of SB54 and the governors refusal to call a special legislative session to outline the voting process to replace U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who will resignJune 30, was a shadow over the whole meeting.

A new bylaw was overwhelming adopted by delegates that says only U.S. House district GOP delegates will pick the partys nominee in a special election.

But that will be ignored under Herberts election plan, unveiledThursday.

SB54 signature-gathering candidates will go on the GOP primary ballot if they qualify by getting 7,000 Republican voters on their petitions.

Both Hatch and Herbert dodged what could have been a black day politically for them both with a little help from their friends.

Some other points in the convention:

Only 2,066 delegates voted in the chairs race, or just over 50 percent of the 4,000 delegates elected in the spring of 2016.

Several delegates gave tearful recounts about family and friends who died or continue to suffer with cancer and seizures and they believe they could have been helped by medical marijuana.

While it was emotional testimony, the libertarian side of the GOP delegates didnt gain favor over the anti-drug element.

Read more:
Top GOP officials head off embarrassment at Saturday's Republican Convention - Utah Policy