Political observer Kirk Jowers, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, said he talked to Christensen about the question of his affiliation over lunch a few months ago.

Jowers said he believed Christensen realized "he was just not getting traction because he was just a square peg in a round hole, and there was no way to smooth that out as a Rocky Republican."

Still, Jowers said, the affiliation change may be too little too late.

"I'm dubious that it will work," he said. "If he was going to do it for political purposes, he probably should have gone all the way and become a Democrat. I really think that incredibly committed core of supporters that Rocky has will be hard-pressed to vote for someone who doesn't carry that label. Their party label is important in Utah, because they don't win a lot of seats."

He said the change may hurt Christensen, as Republicans who had initially supported him may now find it more difficult. That, he said, could ultimately help Buhler.

"I think now (Buhler) becomes more unique than he was before," Jowers said.

Jowers said Anderson's "now-stale endorsement" of Christensen has proved to be somewhat lukewarm, especially as attention in recent weeks turned to Anderson's off-the-cuff statements that he would possibly consider seeking a third term if, after the Sept. 11 primary election, he was unhappy with the slate of candidates.

Anderson later said the chance of that happening was slim to none, and he specifically said he would not run if Christensen made it through the primary.

Christensen, meanwhile, hopes voters will focus on his experience and his ideas.

"Americans are fed up with the gridlock that occurs in the world of partisanship," he said. "I've always hated labels."

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com