Huntsman, Springmeyer file for race

Huntsman is about in the same position as former GOP-Gov. Mike Leavitt was in Leavitt's first re-election race in 1996. Leavitt was a hugely popular GOP governor in a very Republican state. He had a lot of money. And Democrats put up a sacrificial lamb — Jim Bradley. Bradley had run for Salt Lake mayor, served as a county commissioner and planned a future in politics. (He now sits on the Salt Lake County Council.)

Leavitt, who did not win 50 percent of the vote in a tough, three-person race in 1992, set a goal of winning his 1996 race by the largest margin for a major office in recent state history. And he did, getting more than 70 percent of the vote.

Huntsman said he has only one political goal this year: "Winning. I'll be happy with 50 percent plus one. I'm a political realist."

Said Springmeyer: "I told the party that I would gladly step down if some good, strong Democrat wanted to win by losing" this year's governor's race. "Someone who wanted to set up a good foundation for running in four years" for governor or some other higher office. "But that doesn't seem to be happening." Springmeyer said barring any last-minute changes, he would file Monday — the last candidate filing day this year.

He listed his four main campaign themes as public education; economic development, "which really goes hand in hand to funding education"; ethics reform, mainly in the Legislature, as he sees no great faults with the executive branch of government; and "leading out" on stopping the Legislature from "continually telling" local governments and school districts how to run their affairs.

"The (GOP-controlled) Legislature complains all the time about mandates from the federal government, but then tells local governments what to do," said Springmeyer, who is married with children and grandchildren.

Huntsman has already announced that he will serve only two four-year terms as governor. He early on backed Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the GOP presidential race. And now that McCain is the Republican nominee, rumors circulate that Huntsman could find a high office in Washington, D.C., should McCain win. But Huntsman reiterated Tuesday that his current plans call for him to serve out his second gubernatorial term, should he win in November.

And what about Springmeyer's claim that Mary Kaye Huntsman is "drop-dead gorgeous"?

Responded Huntsman: "So at the outset of this race we definitely agree on one thing."

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