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KUER News Transcript: June 28, 2000
By Jenny Brundin

The mood at the party room at Brigham Young apartments was subdued from the start, with just a few dozen of Merrill Cook's supporters on hand. Still, early in the evening, Cook was optimistic, predicting he'd win by a narrow margin despite facing an uphill battle to hang onto the seat he's held for two terms. Just six weeks ago, Cook lagged badly in the polls, hurt by two years of bad press about his alleged behavior problems and combustible temper. But Cook maintained that if voters could hear him on the issues and learn about his voting record in Congress, they would move to his camp. But it was too little too late.

An emotional Cook conceded defeat at 10 o'clock, fairly early on as the election results trickled in. Though he believes low turnout was a factor in his loss, Cook blamed the state Republican party and media coverage.

COOK: "Sure, I wish my colleagues here locally would have stood up like the national Republicans did for me but that didn't happen. I congratulate my opponent. But you can't win when the party big shots won't stand up for you when the press takes the shots and when the high-priced lobbyists and consultants decide they want to control the party instead of the people getting the chance to control that party."

Prominent members of the state party sought out the 35-year-old Derek Smith--a poltical unknown who they believe could keep Democrat Jim Matheson from winning the seat. Cook wouldn't say whether he'll support Smith in the general election, indeed, he wouldn't say whether he'd run as an independent. But Cook did call the stinging loss a "bump in the road."

A few blocks away, the scene at the Hilton Hotel was festive and boisterous. Before 200 supporters, millionaire businessman Derek Smith made a short victory speech immediately after Cook conceded defeat.

SMITH: "For an absolute political unknown, to come out of nowhere, to come from behind in just 12 weeks and win the Republican nomination says that this is still the greatest country in the world. Where else could you find that? Democracy is working!" (cheering)

Smith credited his message of lowering taxes and returning federal dollars for education directly to school districts for his victory. Smith acknowledged that some of his votes were really votes against Cook, but he said it was his stand on issues that put him over the top. Throughout the race, polls showed Smith with a comfortable lead over Cook. The incumbent, meanwhile--dubbed the comeback kid in previous elections--while managing to narrow the gap considerably in the last days of the campaign, couldn't come back this time.