The big question is, who can turn out the votes in a June 22 closed Republican primary? Both candidates will have to run intense grass-roots campaigns that reach out, individually, to the relatively small number of citizens who are likely to vote. Big mass media buys won't help much.

It is a real test of the organizational, leadership and persuasive skills of two very fine candidates. And the best candidate will win.

Pignanelli: Early in the election season, one candidate for governor publicly announced his intentions to eliminate sales tax on food, prohibit disposal of higher levels of radioactive waste and seek ethical reform in state government through banning gifts to the governor and lawmakers. The original proponent of these progressive proposals is not Democrat Scott Matheson Jr., but Republican Jon Huntsman Jr. Within weeks of introducing these ideas, Huntsman managed to engender the anger of legislators, lobbyists, local elected officials (who want those food tax dollars) and the powerful radioactive waste industry. In Utah politics, this qualifies as true bravery.

Despite these risks, Huntsman's plans are attracting younger Republicans who possess conservative ideals on moral issues but are sympathetic to realistic solutions to environmental and poverty concerns. There is some genius to this strategy. For example, the food tax removal demonstrates fiscal frugality and a social conscience — no easy task for a Republican.

Unique and compelling ideas can be powerful tools in elections. Many remember the 1997 governor's race in Virginia when Republican James Gilmore came from behind to defeat Democrat Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer. Gilmore caught the imagination of the electorate with his promise to slash the state's car tax. State politicians were unaware how unpopular the vehicle fee was until Gilmore offered up its repeal. Huntsman will need the tactical advantage his proposals convey. Nolan Karras is already on the offensive, pushing his enormous business and government experience to contrast with Huntsman's relative youth. In the pre-convention debates, delegates were impressed with Karras' command of the issues and straightforward analysis of state financial matters.