Along with Anderson, Democrats have to hold the seats of retiring Democratic Reps. Scott Daniels and Judy Ann Buffmire, both D-Salt Lake. Those districts are mostly Democratic, and "we have good candidates," said Dunn.

Jenkins said that Republicans consider both of the open seats winnable, and they are also eyeing two incumbents besides Anderson: House Minority Leader Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley, and Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake, who is in an important swing district.

McGee's "is a district split down the middle and (that) was held by a Republican for a long time," Jenkins said.

An extra sweet victory for Democrats, says Dunn, would be unseating Reps. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, and Chad Bennion, R-Murray.

Bigelow is running for House majority leader. Democrat candidate Corey Rushton narrowly lost to Bigelow in 2002, despite garnering little attention early in that race. This year he has had strong party support from the outset and has matched the incumbent's fund-raising.

Bennion is the administrative assistant for GOP Salt Lake Councilman Marv Hendrickson. Bennion is seen as a partisan hardball player in the House, and Democrats believe they could stop a rising political career and a formidable foe in November.

His opponent, Tim Cosgrove, almost defeated Bennion two years ago, and Jenkins believes it could be just as close this year.

"It's going to be a dogfight," he said.

'Lightning could strike'

Dunn believes Democrats also have a shot at Reps. Susan Lawrence, R-East Millcreek; Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns; and Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, as well as winning the open seat of retiring Rep. Morgan Philpot, R-Sandy.

Unseating Hutchings would be tasty revenge. Appointed to fill a Democratic vacancy, Hutchings in 2001 switched parties and became a Republican. He won re-election in 2002, even though Democrats targeted him. To finally get the seat back would be a moral win, House Democrats believe.

Finally, "lightning could strike" for current House Majority Leader Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, warns Dunn.

Curtis was Workman's legal counsel before becoming embroiled in the county vehicle/gasoline scandal this spring. Even though he was driving a county SUV fueled with county-bought gasoline up to the Capitol during the 2004 Legislature, he put in for state mileage reimbursement. He repaid the state for the expense after the broader county vehicle scandal broke. He resigned his post with Workman.

"We have a shot at him because of the scandal," says Dunn. "It's a sleeper race because (Curtis) has been busy running for House speaker, not running" for his House District 49 seat, he added.

Republicans have also focused more attention on Curtis' race since the scandal, and Jenkins said that there is a slim chance of an upset. But Curtis has loads of money to spend, and although he is also campaigning among fellow representatives to replace Rep. Marty Stephens, R-Farr West, as speaker, his re-election campaign is not an afterthought.

"We're not ignoring the storms," Jenkins said. "But in the end, he's a well-respected legislator and will do well."

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