However, Jones found that only 39 percent of Utah Republicans statewide favor the new law, which will be on the Nov. 6 ballot. Fifty-four percent of Republicans oppose vouchers, Jones found. That's one reason that GOP legislative leaders have formed their own public issue committee and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to educate rank-and-file Republicans to favor vouchers.

Those GOP voucher numbers are about the same in the city — 39 percent of Salt Lake City Republicans favor vouchers, 51 percent oppose. The big difference, however, is that there are far fewer Republicans in Salt Lake City than there are across the whole state — which is overwhelmingly Republican in its voting.

Buhler already has by far most of the city GOP vote. Jones found that Buhler, an eight-year City Council member, has 60 percent Republican vote.

Politically speaking, Buhler wouldn't pick up much support if he came out in favor of vouchers, for his own Republican Party members are split on the issue.

But he has much to lose by favoring vouchers, considering that most city Democrats and political independents — whom Buhler really needs to win — oppose vouchers.

Jones found that 59 percent of political independents in the city oppose vouchers. Eighty-five percent of Salt Lake City Democrats oppose vouchers.

But Buhler said he has not avoided the voucher issue for any strategic reasons.

"Sure, I want everyone to vote for me, of course," said Buhler. "I just don't feel (vouchers) are a real issue in this (mayoral) race. When people ask my opinion (on vouchers), I give it to them."

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com