A key primary role for Utah?

Utah needs to lead the way for a Western states primary during the 2008 presidential election by coming up with the cash to pay for it now, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said.

Huntsman put $850,000 in his budget to pay for the primary, even though the money won't be needed for at least another year. Acting now rather than waiting until the 2007 legislative session should help get other states on board, he said.

"We all need to take it seriously early if we're going to make it happen," the governor said.

So far, only Utah and New Mexico are committed to the concept. Huntsman and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, announced in October that they'd picked Feb. 5, 2008, for the election.

Arizona is also expected to hold an early primary but has yet to sign off on the date. Other states interested in the idea, Huntsman has said, include Montana, Nevada and Idaho. Colorado and Wyoming are less likely candidates.

"We have some willing governors in the region who like the idea. They say they are facing unwilling legislatures," Huntsman said, explaining why it was important to him "to show some of the surrounding states that our Legislature was willing to fund the concept early on."

Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said he agrees with the governor that the money should be appropriated in the upcoming session rather than waiting until 2007. However, Valentine has yet to poll his caucus on whether they're ready to fund the primary.

"I personally believe the governor's right," Valentine said. "We have a significant amount of one-time money in this year's budget. This is a good use." The 2008 election, of course, is not an ongoing expense to the state.

Plus, the Senate leader said, coming up the cash now "sends a strong signal to other states that we want to join us that we put our money where our mouth is. If we wait until next year, that doesn't give other states time to debate" whether they want to become part of the regional primary.

But so far, New Mexico's governor is staying mum on whether he'll request funding this year for that state's primary election. Richardson may be proceeding cautiously because he's running for re-election next year and may be a presidential candidate in 2008.

And last year, Montana's legislature rejected an attempt to schedule a presidential primary early in the election year. Lawmakers are expected to try again in 2007, the next time Montana lawmakers meet, but might not have much luck then, either.