PROVO — For the past dozen years, nobody has found the answer to a question that has perplexed anyone seeking an alternative to Utah's 3rd District congressman.

Is there a formula to defeat Chris Cannon?

A conga line of fellow Republicans has tried and failed to oust Cannon since he won the seat for his party in 1996 by defeating incumbent Democrat Bill Orton.

After six terms, Cannon now faces what may be the stiffest challenge yet on Saturday at the Utah Republican Convention at Utah Valley State College.

If one of his latest challengers has discovered an answer to the riddle, Cannon could lose his seat in Congress by midday Saturday. If not, one of the four might force Cannon into a primary for the third straight election cycle.

Cannon flew home from Washington, D.C., Thursday night to join a creative flurry of last-minute campaigning. He will meet today with delegates for breakfast and dinner and in a cottage meeting at his Mapleton home tonight.

Meanwhile, David Leavitt's campaign this week sent popcorn and root beer to each of the more than 1,100 delegates who will vote at Saturday's convention, and Jason Chaffetz mailed just as many handwritten postcards.

Cannon's campaign deployed a new strategy this year, creating customized information packets for as many delegates as possible.

"We feel good we're delivering information and Dave is delivering popcorn and root beer," Cannon campaign manager Ryan Frandsen said.

Leavitt said the snacks were an effort to thank delegates for putting up with six long weeks of being bombarded by candidates. The token recalled a similar treat provided to delegates two years ago by John Jacob. Jacob invited delegates to a free screening of "Mission: Impossible 3" on the eve of the 2006 state convention.

The next day, more delegates voted for Jacob than Cannon, but Cannon survived the scare and defeated Jacob in the Republican primary.

Chaffetz condemned both ideas, saying 3rd District delegates and voters have been starved for serious debate for years.

"Those tricks are obnoxious, petty attempts to buy votes, and I refuse to participate," Chaffetz said. "I think they're offensive. I promised the delegates at the beginning of the race I would not buy them meals. I can't ask someone for a donation, to turn around and buy someone else popcorn and root beer. It's a Republican principle."

Chaffetz has said he is more fiscally responsible than Cannon and Leavitt because their campaigns are in debt while he has the money to run what he called 500 substantive television commercials this week.

Leavitt told delegates Saturday at a Provo debate that he is similar to Cannon but a better leader and diplomat, an appealing prospect to many Republicans who in the past have chafed at Cannon's style.