Webb: Random observations:

• We're all going to be plenty tired of politics by Nov. 2, but this election hasn't been terribly oppressive, at least in Utah. The airwaves will be full of political ads for the next five weeks, but that's to be expected. Utah has been spared heavy media bombardment because it's not a presidential battleground state.

• The election, overall, has been rather nice and quiet (with the glaring exception of the Salt Lake County mayoral chaos). This election won't set any records for campaign spending as Utah candidates have been reasonable in their mass media advertising. So far, very little negative campaigning has occurred (except, again, some harsh rhetoric in the county fight). And the national independent expenditure groups have stayed away.

• Quiet elections in Utah are usually good for incumbents and Republicans. Democrats like Paul Van Dam, Steve Thompson and Beau Babka simply haven't been able to stir up enough interest or controversy to reframe their elections and give voters a reason not to go with the easy and obvious choice. Those three face Sen. Bob Bennett, Rep. Rob Bishop, and Rep. Chris Cannon, respectively, in the U.S. Senate, 1st Congressional District and 3rd Congressional District contests.

• Van Dam appears to at least be having fun with his campaign. He's engaged in some unorthodox campaign activities, like biking across the state with his wife on a tandem, recumbent bicycle. He's also embraced some high-tech campaign techniques like blogging and challenging Bennett to an ongoing online debate on a specially designed Web site.

• The campaign dynamics are much different in the 2nd Congressional District, where Democrat Jim Matheson is the incumbent and Republican John Swallow faces an uphill battle to unseat him. Matheson has worked extremely hard in the district and has connected well with local leaders and citizens. The district political makeup leans Republican, but not heavily so, and Matheson has raised plenty of money to outgun Swallow in paid advertising. Still, Swallow has a powerful argument as he portrays himself as part of the "Bush team" that is needed in Congress to further the president's priorities.

• The gubernatorial race seems to be tightening, but Scott Matheson Jr. may have to draw a sharper contrast between himself and Jon Huntsman Jr. to have a chance to win. Both are smart, attractive, likable candidates and have been very friendly toward each other. But with Utah voters' natural predilection to vote Republican, Matheson has to give them a reason to vote for him. Huntsman, for the most part, has avoided his biggest vulnerability, that of being perceived as a rich kid from a powerful family that wants to run Utah. He has emerged as a leader in his own right and shows just the right touch of self-deprecating humor and an ability to connect with all sorts of people.