Will mayoral race split along religious lines?

Over the next several weeks you'll likely start hearing more about the Salt Lake City mayor's race as radio and TV ads start to hit the airwaves.

Many of you hearing or seeing the ads won't actually get to vote for Mayor Rocky Anderson or his main challengers, Frank Pignanelli and Molonai Hola, because you don't live in the city.

Still, you may want to pay attention.

This could get interesting.

The general feeling among political types is that Anderson is vulnerable — but going after his clear weak points must be done with some touch, some adeptness.

Poll after poll by Dan Jones & Associates, the pollster for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV, shows a clear split where Anderson is concerned.

Democrats and non-Mormons really like him; Republicans and members of the LDS Church don't.

In the middle are some political independents and non-Mormons, maybe even a few faithful members of the LDS Church who are not so quick to judge the mayor.

For now, Anderson seems a good bet to come through the Oct. 7 primary, where the field of five will be cut to the top two vote-getters.

The challenge for Hola or Pignanelli after that first cut is clear: How does one of them go after Anderson in the final election?

Look to some of the ads soon to be running to get a hint.

Will they use humor?

One ad I've heard that was pitched to Pignanelli would have kids in the sandbox playing together, with one not getting along. And the misfit would be compared to Anderson.

Will they be blunt?

Another anti-Anderson ad could have a well-known community or political leader — likely also a member of the LDS Church — saying Anderson has divided the community over the Main Street Plaza or other issues, and now is the time for healing.

There are dangers in such campaigning, of course.

Polling shows less than 50 percent of city residents say they are members of the LDS Church. And it's a good bet many of those who say they are LDS are so-called Jack Mormons — not tithe-paying, faithful members.

Unlike the rest of Utah, Republicans are not a majority in the city, which is split about one-third Democrats, one-third Republicans and one-third independents.