SALT LAKE (ABC 4 News) - Bob Bennett now admits its unlikely he'll win the Republican party nomination outright at the state convention.
This means there could be a June primary election.
Bennett is seeking a fourth six year term as senator.
But at Tuesday's caucus meeting, Bennett said this is a tough race because of the anti-Washington mood.
Which means what began Bennett's senate career now threatens to end it.
In 1992, Bob Bennett was elected senator by running against the Washington establishment.
In fact, in one of his TV spots from that first campaign he said,
"Politics shouldn't be a career. You should get in, make your contribution and then get out."
But now, 18 years later, some voters see Bennett as the establishment and his GOP opponent Mike Lee as the fresh face.
Lee told ABC 4,
"This seat isn't something that belongs to anyone, it belongs to the people and the people, I believe, are ready for a change."
Lee, the son of former BYU President, Rex Lee, says he did well at Tuesday's caucuses.
And he did not blink when ABC 4 asked him if he's emerging as Bennett's main challenger.
ABC 4 (Vanocur ): “Would you think I was crazy if I called you a front-runner?
Lee: “No, I wouldn't but I would think I was crazy if I started acting like a front-runner."
In a recent, revealing New York Times article Friday, Bennett admits it is unlikely he'll have enough delegates to win the GOP nomination outright at the state convention in May.
Ironically, the man who ran on a platform of change in 1992 now faces possible defeat by voters demanding the same thing.
Perhaps, as Bennett himself said in another 1992 TV spot,
"Give me one term. If I can't bring about serious, tangible change, I won't ask you for another."
The New York Times also said a hint of trouble for Senator Bennett may be that, Tuesday, his sister ran to be a delegate and lost.
ABC 4 has now also confirmed that Bennett's own son ran for delegate too but lost to others who are not committed to any candidate.
