Matheson, the ad says, opposes tuition tax credits or vouchers for private schools "which could drain tax dollars from public schools," while Huntsman is said to favor tuition tax credits, which give parents with children in private schools a tax break.

The commercial also says Matheson "wants to use the state's scarce resources to improve schools, not build an expensive new prison," like Huntsman. Huntsman has said he wants to look at moving the state prison from Draper to Tooele.

Chaffetz said the commercial was "not worthy" of a response ad.

"I'd characterize it as a mild attack ad," he said. "It's taking shots with a BB gun."

He said Huntsman doesn't need to run that kind of advertising.

"Fund raising has been great," Chaffetz said, noting the campaign is ahead of schedule toward reaching its goal of between $3.5 million and $4 million. "When they smell and sense a winner, it's easy to raise money. We're benefitting from that right now."

The campaign's tracking polls are showing Huntsman continues to lead the race, although Chaffetz would not be more specific. Huntsman said Monday his goal at this point is "just to hold our ground."

Matheson's camp sounded less optimistic about victory.

"The problem is just the nature of the state. We feel like we've been in this race from the beginning and we have a decent chance," Zuhl said. "We've done realistically what we could do."

Most Democrats, he said, don't have the resources to run a competitive race. Matheson has been able to identify education as the most important issue facing the state — a strategy, Zuhl said, is resonating with voters.

"This is a Republican state. The fact we are even competitive in this state shows it is working," he said.

Huntsman's campaign, he said, "thought they won the race the night of the primary."

Matheson said Tuesday that "he's still in the hunt."

Zuhl said he's upbeat but "I'm not crowing. We'll leave that to our opponents."

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