The Matheson family has always refrained from involvement in internal party elections. The aggressive entry by the congressman into this foray is a welcome activity, as Democrats are in need of his pragmatic skills and statewide popularity. Rocky and Matheson understand the importance of a sympathetic party leader. Although their names will not be on the ballot, the election for chairman will be a clear choice for where Democrats want to go — Rocky or Matheson — and their well-known differences of personality and priorities.

Webb: On the Republican side, not much drama is expected at the state level with Joe Cannon and Enid Greene seeking re-election as chairman and vice-chairwoman. They will likely face opposition but should be able to handily retain their posts. They have the support of most GOP elected officials and county party leaders, particularly Sen. Orrin Hatch, who will lead the ticket in 2006. It's customary for the top officeholder next up for election to have significant influence on who will lead the party.

Some political supporters of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. are less than enthusiastic about having Cannon and Greene continue for two more years. They felt that during the gubernatorial campaign last year the party hierarchy was too close to and supportive of Huntsman opponent Nolan Karras, exemplified by the fact that Greene left the party vice chairmanship to join Karras as his lieutenant governor running mate. She was then allowed to return to her party post after Huntsman defeated Karras in the primary election.

Despite the old political wounds, Cannon and Greene apparently have Huntsman's blessing to continue for two more years, although the governor's people have made it clear they want new party leadership in 2007, in advance of Huntsman's 2008 re-election.

While the state GOP is in reasonably good shape, the Salt Lake County party is in trouble both internally and in terms of election results. For years, the county party has been besieged by a small group of rabble-rousing dissidents who oppose party leadership. They can be counted on to disrupt nearly every meeting with a barrage of procedural motions dealing with the party constitution and bylaws.

While the dissidents aren't usually successful, the constant bickering and infighting becomes terribly tiresome. Normal people with real lives get fed up and figure they have better things to do than expend emotional energy fighting with unreasonable zealots.

And while the party fiddles internally, the Democrats are winning elections. While polls show Republicans still outnumber