Throckmorton, who hopes to raise $150,000, expects Cannon to outspend him but promises a vigorous volunteer-driven campaign.

"We'll have one of the best grassroots campaigns Utah has seen in quite awhile," he said. "In about a week and a half, we'll have a volunteer base of about 500 people out going door-to-door."

He also hopes the high-profile race for governor will generate a high turnout for the primary because he believes it would help him more than Cannon.

The poll shows Cannon leading Babka 61 percent to 19 percent if the general election, which is still six months away, were held today. Throckmorton drew 41 percent to Babka's 21 percent, with 32 percent undecided.

Babka's campaign manager said the Democrat expected to be trailing the two Republicans at this point.

"We just kicked off the campaign, and we're excited to watch those numbers improve as the campaign moves forward," Ann Ober said. "We hope as his name recognition improves, we'll see an improvement in those numbers. He won a lot of votes against an incumbent two years ago. That's why the party was so excited about him."

She expects the Republican primary will help Babka, who has worked in the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office and won nearly 45 percent of the vote as the Democratic nominee for Salt Lake County sheriff in 2002.

"I think this gives us a chance to get our feet under us and get the campaign rolling while Chris and Matt are focused on their primary," Ober said.

Hunter cautioned Republicans against assuming a win over Babka in November.

"He ran a strong campaign in Salt Lake County, so he cannot be dismissed by Republicans," Hunter said. "At this point, Congressman Cannon is in a much stronger position than a challenger would be. Republicans cannot take it for granted. He's a guy who has several tens of thousands of votes in his life."

---

E-mail: twalch@desnews.com