Demos' strength undeniable, but will it last?

Pignanelli: That sweet smell many politicos are sniffing is not LaVarr's new cologne. It is the scent of predicted Democrat victories across the country (including Utah) in 2008. While the odor may be repugnant to Republicans (and LaVarr's wife) its existence cannot be denied.

Most polling organizations have the major Democrat presidential candidates leading Republican candidates in national surveys. GOP strategists in Washington are conceding in public they will not retake the Senate in November. Further, because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not the demon of Tom Foley (ex-congressman who text messaged teenagers) the public will not be as energized to dump the incumbents. All Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama need are the states John Kerry carried, plus a small one like New Mexico ( where Kerry garnered 49 percent), to win the general election. Politicos are noting the huge crowds of excited supporters and voters that Clinton and Obama are attracting.

Republican problems are still compounding. One must dig deep inside Republican candidates' speeches to find one nice thing said about President Bush (still unpopular with over two-thirds of the country). For years, the GOP mantra was the easy to remember "Low Taxes, Less government." Conservatives laugh at such claims today. National Republicans are confused and lack a coherent message — they're acting like Democrats of the past.

Utah Democrats' olfactory senses are also excited and have recruited top notch legislative candidates, even in Utah County. Further, with Ralph Becker as the new and more palatable Salt Lake City mayor, local Democrats are no longer burdened with a PR disaster.

Democrats will gain only if they do not self-destruct (a big "IF"). Clinton and Obama are now engaged in stupid, pointless arguments.

Congress is more despised than Bush, and the public perceives little benefit from the 2006 elections. Indeed, current Democrat advances exist from Republicans' trouble, not for any great ideas the party is forwarding. (Clinton and Obama are attracting crowds because of their personal characteristics and personalities, their platforms are secondary). Thus, Democrats can do well this year if they can run out the clock by avoiding fouls and turnovers.

• Two weeks ago, I detailed Mitt Romney's declaration to a Boston reporter in December of "I don't know that he (God) has spoken to anyone since Moses and the bush or perhaps some others." A number of readers expressed skepticism (some were actually courteous in their disbelief). You can watch Romney disavowing millennia of Judeo-Christian beliefs on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DK