By Robert Gehrke, The Salt Lake Tribune

Republican Senate candidate Mike Lee has done an about-face from his previous support for a nuclear weapons test ban treaty.

Lee had said in May he likely would vote to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. He said at the time he believed it would benefit U.S. strategic interests and opt-out language in the treaty could allow the United States to resume testing if it became necessary.

By Jen Dimascio, Politico

In Utah, where tea party conservatism is steeped in a past of nuclear tragedy, arms control issues tend to be more important than they might be elsewhere in the country.

That’s why in the race to replace Sen. Bob Bennett as Utah’s next senator, Republican Mike Lee and Democrat Sam Granato have already staked out positions on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia, which the Senate is in the midst of debating, as well as President Barack Obama’s ultimate goal — passing a new Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

By Matt Canham, The Salt Lake Tribune

WASHINGTON — Sam Granato wants to represent Utah in the halls of Congress, yet he never has walked them. The Democratic Senate candidate never has seen the Senate chamber, never stood outside the White House gates, never checked out a Smithsonian exhibit, never visited the Lincoln Memorial.

At least not until this week.

For the first time in his life, Mr. Granato has come to Washington.

By David Demille, St. George Spectrum

ST. GEORGE - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Lee has already established a base of grassroots supporters after a close primary battle, but Democrat Sam Granato is looking to expand his own ground-level momentum.

Granato introduced a new campaign effort Wednesday aimed at improving grassroots support. The Salt Lake area businessman is asking for contributions of $19.70, as a way to try and reach supporters without deep pockets, and as a symbolic reference to the year 1970, when Frank Moss was the last Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Utah.

"I've always believed the true meaning of any campaign's success was the number of regular voters it could inspire to get involved, not the amount of money amassed from out-of-state special interest groups with deep pockets," Granato said.

By Robert Gehrke, Salt Lake Tribune

Democratic Senate candidate Sam Granato has a bit of a unique request for potential donors to his campaign.

The underdog contender is asking donors to pony up $19.70. The significance of the number is that the last time Democrats won a U.S. Senate seat it was 1970, a total of 40 years ago now.