Democrats also hope for some lightning strikes in Utah House and Senate races in Salt Lake County. Slowly, Democrats have been winning seats moving south from Salt Lake City down the county's east bench.

Some hard-working moderate Republicans are trying to reverse that trend this election, but the march has been fairly constant, if, at times, halting.

In the 2006 elections, about 8,000 more residents voted straight Democratic ticket in Salt Lake County than voted straight Republican ticket — at least an indication that many county voters are picking Republicans and Democrats down the ballot.

Frum writes: "Conservatives need to ask ourselves some hard questions about the trend toward the Democrats among America's affluent well-educated." He adds that of the 10 best-educated states, seven are Democratic in their voting and the other three are trending Democratic.

Suburbs used to be solidly Republican in many states. No longer, says Frum, citing several suburbs outside of Washington, D.C., that are turning Democratic.

Still, while Democrats are hoping Salt Lake County may be slightly moving in that direction, there is little change in Cache, Davis, Utah and Weber counties, where Republicans still control the suburbs.

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Deseret News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com