Comments about ‘Once ho-hum 2010 elections shaping up as a major event’

I wonder if he wishes he had waited a week to declare his candidacy for U.S. Senate. He could have run as a moderate heir to Huntsman still with strong ties to the conservative base. Instead, he has to brand himself as ultraconservative to win the Senate seat in 2010.

I am sure both Bridgewater and Shurtleff are looking at the Governor's race. The governor lives in Utah which is probably more appealing to Shurtleff's wife than living in DC. Stay tuned for more from shurtleff!

Senator Valentine has been planning to be the next Governor for a LONG time. What happens now? will he challenge Herbert? Will Senator Waddoups run for Governor or challenge Bennett?

Will Gary Herbert have as many challengers in 2010 as Olene Walker had when she ran for her first time for Governor? Herbert was selected as Lt. Gov, not for his qualifications but for political purposes which seemed to work as Huntsman won!

The BIG question is whether the next elected governor will actually complete his entire term before jumping to his next political appointment!

I agree that Shurtleff's got to be rethinking this Big Time. Everyone stay tuned to his Twitter feed.

Mr. Bernick, I was there as a state delegate in 2004. The biggest issue for state delegates was her Walker's age, not her moderate stance. Remember, we chose Huntsman, who also was by far not among the very conservative candidates in that field of twelve.

I think if Jim Matheson runs for Governor in 2010, he wins going away. If Peter Caroon runs it will be a close race. Dems have a real possibility to win the Governorship. If you look at Herbert's background, little education, little experience in politics of a state or national level, never dealing with massive budgets, etc. He will be vulnerable even in his own party.

Now is the time for you to again join the Dem party race. Please run again.

It would be perfect transition from Huntsman.

Herbert scares me to death.

I like Gov Huntsman, and wish him well selling his 'cap and trade' proposals to the Chinese. They build more coal-fired power plants than the rest of the world put together.

I think I will vote for Mickey Mouse. Honestly he would make a better candidate than what we get to vote for.

I hope all the ole guard goes out.

Vote for qualifications, not names, or religious affiliations.

A "known" name is a sure fire way to get elected in politics. Oh, and money.

I think Becker could pull it off. He seems to have popularity far beyond the boundaries of Salt Lake City. I live in Davis County and haven't voted for a Democrat in years, but would vote for Becker in a heart beat.

Governor Matheson... Has a good ring to it. Did before, does now and will after the next election. Governor Huntsman was a healthy move from the far right wing of the Replicants and one of the Mathesons will be a welcome continuation of the move towards sensibility and even-handedness in Utah politics. I predict that the far right wing of the Utah Republican party will shoot itself in the foot by nominating someone who is so far to the right that he (not she) will fall on his face in the next election. By the way, Senator Bennett, now would be a great time to live up to your promise of only two terms and step down before embarking on re-election to a fifth term.

, But Gary Herbert is no 'Olene Walker.' Herbert will not be wishy-washy when it comes to re-election. He'll be one of our best Governor's and will put together a campaign team that is second-to-none.

Does anyone REALLY want to compete with Herbert's knowledge of the GOP delegate process? Does anyone REALLY want to face-up to a true Utahn who has 2 million- plus in the bank?

Is 2010 the right time for that kind of nonsensical bravado?

I'm sure that Herbert and his team are licking their collective chops at the opportunity to campaign.

I take it you're from the Herbert campaign. Nice attempt at trying to scare away the competition. Herbert's ultraconservative positions might work well with the crazy delegate crowd, but if he gets forced into a primary watch out. The strategy can easily backfire with more reasonable primary voters.

Utah's elections have gone steadily downhill while Gary Herbert was in charge. How can anyone think he can run the state? He is not a college graduate, messed up elections-Utah had one of the lowest voter turnout in all 50 states in 2008. Do you really think he can keep the governor seat?

I pick my state polititions by which city they reside. Tired of the Huntsmans and Curtis's that keep signing hurtful districts splits, writing blanks checks for East side transportation, and who bow to the almighty Tom Dolan - Your welcome for your Soccer stadium Tom, don't ask for any more money from us citizens for a very long time you've taken your share and more for the next 30 years!

I like Gary. He has going to everything Huntsman hasn't.

I really am glad Huntsman has been selected to go to China. I think that will help international relations with China a lot. Obama did good on that one.

Huntsman looks to me like nothing but a brown-noser.

I hope Utah gets a TRUE conservative in power; i.e, NO gay marriage, NO "let's go ultra-green", NO messing around with the 2nd amendment and NO incessant romance with Obama.

I too hope Utah gets a UTAH conservative in power; i.e, YES on all levels of nuclear waste, YES on nuclear plants, YES to anything our corporate masters desire, YES on locking up our shared land with leases, YES on selling our children's education to the lowest bidder, YES on invading individual privacy, YES on legislating religion, YES on an obstinate view locked in 1980.

Hey Needed: The Trib called, they're missing a lib.