"This is going to delegates because, I believe, they know there are moderate Republican delegates out there and they are doing everything they can to discredit those people when they go to the convention."

But the UEA, which has more than 350 confirmed "education-friendly delegates," doesn't plan a counterattack. Rather, Rusk says the 19,000-member teachers union will talk with delegates.

"We'll be telling (them) the truth. We'll be giving information to our delegates so they can make an informed choice," Rusk said. "I believe there's a high road in this, and we intend to take it."

The school-choicers' recent mailing to delegates quotes the pro-parental choice section of the current Utah GOP platform. It also has quotes from former president Ronald Reagan, pollster Richard Wirthlin, retired baseball player Dale Murphy and former Miss America Sharlene W. Hawkes.

"We want the delegates to understand" that supporting school choice "is part of our conservative values in Utah and key to us," said Peterson.

"Most of the Republican candidates for governor are fairly supportive of us," she added, except for Walker. "I'd list the strongest supporters as (House speaker) Marty Stephens, (local businessman) Fred Lampropoulos, (former ambassador) Jon Huntsman Jr., and (state senator) Parley Hellewell," said Peterson.

The governor has said time and again that she won't support taking state tax dollars away from public education until public schools are adequately funded. Asked if she supported Ferrin's bill last session, Walker said at the time she hasn't yet seen a proposal that meets her first criterion: No harm to public education.

The UEA has not yet endorsed a candidate for governor, Rusk said. But, she added, "Within the party, (Walker) is certainly the candidate whose educational views are most aligned with ours."

Peterson declined to say how much money her PAC has raised and spent. "But it is not a great deal." The recent mailer was the third going to delegates. This week's will be the fourth.

Tuition tax credits is only one of many issues delegates are concerned about in the governor's race, Peterson admitted. "But (the candidates) haven't distinguished themselves a great deal on the others." School choice is one issue where a few candidates, notably Walker, separate from the rest of the field, she said.

"Education is important to delegates. They will watch the (governor candidates) closely to see who will make meaningful education reform a priority," Peterson said.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; jtcook@desnews.com