Springmeyer promised to use the governor's pen to sign executive orders. In a Springmeyer administration, new and remodeled state buildings would have to meet green energy requirements. The state fleet would get better mileage and emissions standards, he said.

Springmeyer has been told that he "had no chance in hell of winning" against the popular Huntsman. "But I feel the energy" of a Democrat year, not only in Utah but across the nation.

Springmeyer said about 39 percent of Utahns vote Democratic; around 42 percent are Republicans. But if he can win the independent vote, he can oust Huntsman.

Huntsman is popular, admitted Springmeyer. "He's a nice guy with a pretty wife." But he can be beaten, Springmeyer said. Several Democratic speakers said Huntsman is pushed around by a right-wing GOP-controlled Legislature.

Democrats have been winning elections recently in Salt Lake County, which has about 1 million people and makes up 40 percent of the state's population.

Democratic Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon is popular, and Republicans had a hard time finding someone to run against him this year. The nine-member council is ruled by five Republicans and four Democrats. Various Democrats promised Saturday that they would win a majority on the County Council this year. Horiuchi is the only Democratic council member up for re-election. Republicans must defend three seats, including an open seat with the retirement of one GOP council member.

Democrats are making inroads, even into the core GOP/Mormon voters, party leaders said.

Democratic County Council candidate Paul Pugmire said Utah Republicans have taken a "good religion" — the LDS faith — and politically made a "cynical use" of that religion. Republicans have made "choosing no religion somehow a failure."

"I am tired of my fine Republican colleagues," Councilman Jim Bradley said. "They don't get it. They are so wrapped up in their nitwit, political conservative philosophies that they don't understand the acts of service — service to your fellow citizens."

One of the Utah Democrats' themes this year is that more Utahns are looking for a change — change from a one-party, think-alike GOP state to one open to new ideas. Several Democratic candidates are former Republicans. Former GOP Rep. Dave Hogue has become a Democrat and received loud cheers when he was nominated by acclamation Saturday to run in his old Riverton House District 52.

Mike Kellermeyer, a former West Jordan city councilman, lost his bid to be the Democratic nominee in Senate District 6. But Kellermeyer said he feels at home in the Democratic Party, leaving the GOP in 2000 after he saw a Republican candidate he worked for "unfairly" defeated in the Republican convention. "My wife would vote for Mickey Mouse if he was the Republican candidate. But my children are looking at Democrats," Kellermeyer said.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; ldethman@desnews.com