I've been a bit amused that no leading Republican has publicly called for Workman to drop her campaign — get that doctor's note saying she can't continue — and so make way for the Salt Lake County Republican Party to find a new candidate.

But so far, no one has.

This leads me to conclude: The county mayor's job just isn't that important to Utah Republicans.

If this were a U.S. Senate race, one of the three U.S. House seats, governor or maybe attorney general, and the GOP incumbent were in this kind of trouble, there would be plenty of talk, scheming, pushing, elbowing and such to get another name on the ballot. You just couldn't sit by and watch such a plum office go down the drain.

While Republicans certainly would like to keep Workman's post, no matter what happens to her the County Council will keep its GOP majority come 2005. In other words, Republicans remain in control of county government.

No, there's just not much at stake with Workman. Cook likely won't win (wouldn't the GOP hierarchy really hate that). And a Corroon victory is not fatal; he remains an unknown who may be taken out in four years.

There is some risk, however, that should Corroon win the job, Democrats could find in him another Ted Wilson.

Wilson, you may remember, started a successful political career by sneaking in to win the Salt Lake mayor's race in 1976.

Wilson went on to run high-profile races for the U.S. Senate and governor. And he was a real threat to Republicans in both.

No, Republicans don't want to create another Wilson.

But Salt Lake County government is known as a political graveyard — more than a dozen former county officials have run for higher office only to fail. Only a few have won higher office.

So maybe, GOP leaders figure, you roll the dice with Workman.

If Workman runs and loses, the party is not out that much, and a strong lesson is sent to other wayward GOP officeholders who put personal ambition before party loyalty.

Or maybe Workman actually makes a comeback.

Maybe Cook siphons off some independent votes, Workman rallies with her own Republicans, Corroon draws only a few more ballots than his Democratic base and Workman wins with 40 percent of the vote to Corroon's 38 percent, Cook trailing third.

That's what happened in 1988 when then-GOP Gov. Norm Bangerter beat Wilson and Cook to win a second term.

Of course, Workman could win only to be convicted of a felony and have to leave office.

But even then, the county GOP would get to replace her with someone who would run as an incumbent in 2006.

Yeah, seen like that, sticking with Workman now might be a smart move for Utah Republican leaders.

Of course, if polls over the next several weeks show Workman dropping behind by 20 points or more . . .

Then it might be time to get Workman to the doctor's office for a political reality checkup — maybe a "please excuse Nancy" note.

Either that or GOP leaders start searching the skies for flying pigs.

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Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com