It's his time: Herbert says governor job will be his last in Politics

Even though he's spent the entire day in meeting after meeting at the Capitol, Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert is full of energy as he works the crowd at a political gathering.

He practically leaps out of his shiny black state SUV to join dozens of supporters of mayoral candidate Mike Winder for a mid-July evening of ice cream and soft rock music at the family's dairy farm in West Valley City.

Herbert beams as he poses for photographs with

first Winder, then many of the other guests. He puts his arm around some of the local politicians, Republican and Democrat, there to back Winder.

Everybody gets an enthusiastic greeting from Herbert, and he listens intently to whatever they want to tell the state's next governor. By about 9 p.m., as the band is playing ABBA's "Dancing Queen" for a few stragglers, Herbert is still making the rounds.

"I've been with him when the lights were turned off at an event and he still wasn't ready to leave," sighed an obviously tired young staffer accompanying Herbert.

Clearly, mingling with voters is what Herbert likes most about politics. He even tells the crowd as much, enthusiastically describing neighborhood events like this for candidates as "a chance to renew my batteries, get them recharged and remind myself why I'm doing this."

Where he wants to be

"This," of course, is politics, something Herbert, 62, got into more than two decades ago. Now he is poised to become governor, as soon as Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as ambassador to China and resigns. Herbert's inauguration is expected to be Aug. 11.

He'll be sworn in to a position he promises will be his last elected office. And why not? Herbert has found himself exactly where he's wanted to be for years, about to lead the state he loves. Some of his potential rivals are already stepping aside, and few critics have emerged.

Unlike Huntsman, who was setting himself up for a possible run for the White House in 2012 when President Barack Obama tapped him to be ambassador in mid-May, Herbert insists he has no political ambition beyond serving as governor.

"For me, this really is the top of the mountain. I mean, to be governor of the state of Utah, I don't know if it gets any better than that," Herbert said. "I have zero aspirations to do anything outside of governor in politics."