Does Bob really think he has a chance to beat the Governor, regardless of the candidate at the top of the ticket? You have a popular governor who is doing good work, and you have an ex-Mormon Democrat running in Utah. Sounds like dreaming to me, Bob.

McCain could pick just about anyone and Huntsman would still win by a huge margin.

On several occasions, while serving an LDS mission in Utah, I saw first hand the blatant hatred by some peole calling themselves Christians (mainly born agains and baptists) as they attacked the LDS Church on it's principles and beliefs. Some of these Anti-Mormons go so far as to spend their own money publishing documents and writing letters to newspapers which are full of misconceptions and halftruths. They are so blinded to the fact that what they do is 1% Christian and 99% Anti-Mormon. In more recent times we have seen the verbal attacks on a prominent Latter Day Saint in the form of Mitt Romney, particularly by many Evangelicals in the Southern States. When are they going to grow up and stop the bashing? McCain would be very wise to choose Mitt Romney. His experiences and record speak for themselves. But certain Republicans would rather vote for Obama than a McCain/Romney alliance. In other words they would chop their nose off to spite their face. Oh fools! Put your own pride aside and consider what is best for the present and future of America...look to McCain with hopefully Romney by his side.

Springmeyer could at least sound more hopeful.

The guv has made some odd missteps this year. His aggressive green moves are not the Utah SOP and he has made some moves that have angered the state employees a bit. It might not be a great move to anger 25,000 voters. Were it not a presidential election year, that might be enough to cause him some real concern.

I can only echo what the first two commenters have said; McCain could pick Hucakabee, Pelosi, Reid, Barney Frank, or even Lucifer himself and Huntsman would still get re-elected.

If Romney is picked he will be a lightning rod for McCain. Number one on the attack will be his ignoring the Marriott Hotel porn problem while he was on the board. Hypocrisy will be the tip of the spear.

Huck is FairTax, which Utah state leaders are actually researching as a possible state tax plan. What is Romney's plan? Who knows. Get off the "poor Romney" religious stuff already. Who has the best economic plan? Huckabee. If you don't know about the FairTax, read the book. it's an easy read and instantly logical. It should be in Utah's future.

Who is Bob Springmeyer?

Why do Utahns think that if McSame picks Romney, he'll be a shoe-in to win?
Romney would hurt his campaign, not help it.
Fortunately the repugs picked a guy who's not electable so it wont matter.
President Obama for the next eight years!

The only place in the country still buzzing with talk of a McCain/Romney ticket is Utah. Why do we insist on setting ourselves up for disappointment.

McCain/Romney _will not_ happen.

That's not to say Romney's not a decent, honorable person. He may well be. But, as a Mormon, he'll never be number one, number two, or even number 200 on the ticket of a major political party.

I can live with that. I can live with the fact that none of my kids will ever be President. What I have a hard time with is all the breathless, Pollyanna-like speculation about what bone the major parties might throw to a Mormon.

To the devil with them all!

Let's attend to that part of the country we still have a little influence over. Why are gas prices higher in Utah? Why are our home-grown energy riches (petroleum-based AND renewable) still largely unexploited? Why is free-flowing liquor touted as a good thing? Why are Utah taxes so high, and why to we have so liitle to show for them? Why is the entire state slowly being placed off-limits to worthwhile recreation?

I have never heard of Bob Springmeyer. So if he would even want a chance he should at least let people out there know who he is. I particularly do not like Gov. Huntsman cause I don't think he's done much for this state at all. So I hope there will be someone else running up against him rather then an unknown.

This guy doesn't stand a chance without a rich daddy who bought his way his entire life, the right letter next to his name, or the right church he visits on Sunday.

Too bad...

Romney will be better used by McCain as a Treasury Secretary or some other position dealing with economics of the country.

I'd only vote for McCain if he chooses Mitt, and I'm still voting Springmeyer. Mitt and John Huntsman the younger are 2 different people.

I wish I had good hair and a tan like Mitt.

I don't get how the VP choice would affect local elections. Can anyone explain this?

In this volatile political season, convention wisdom has consistently been turned on its head. Polling has been wildly inaccurate and turnout has fluctuated between historic highs (Democratic turnout in the Utah presidential primary) and virtually non-existent (a Republican run-off that ended Chris Cannon’s career).

Bob Springmeyer is running against one of the weakest governors in the Western United States. While Jon Huntsman Jr. travels around grabbing headlines to promote efforts to fight climate change (and possibly a political career outside of Utah), he refuses to stand up to Republican bosses in the Legislature on the very same issue. On energy, on healthcare reform, on mine safety, he suffers from “task-forceitis” - a disease that gives the appearance of action but in fact does nothing. He has signed into law the most troublesome aspects of the Legislature’s agenda.

Huntsman is an artful dodger on issues related to ethical conduct of business at the Capitol. He has been silent while prominent Republicans drag his party through the mud.

Springmeyer has pledged to veto any bill that comes out of a closed caucus. He has the backbone to do it, but not the resources. Like every political challenger he faces a stacked deck.

I don`t think it matters who Mccain picks for his Presidentual candidate. I think Huntsman would win no matter what. I didn`t even know who was running against Huntsman until today. This guy needs to get his name out there.

To Utahn by Choice:

Amen!! "breathless, Polyanna-like" truly we Utahns have become so obsessed with being accepted, being liked, being popular with those in charge of throwing bones to suckers but we haven't been able to see that we are taken for just that.

We are the sixth or eighth most taxed state in the Union!!! Governor Huntsman is the perfect example of how we Utahns can't see what we are becoming. We preach so highly against socialism and communism but can't see that that is what we are becoming.

We must wake up. GK from England-- look a little harder at the issues. The Republicans and Democrats no longer have America in their best interests. Heaven forbid a presidency with McCain or Obama. But we are hell-bent in that direction. If you want to see the future with Republicans look at the last eight years with Bush. If you want to see the future with Democrats it won't look much different. We have had Republican and Democrat controlled congresses at one time or another in the last 16 years with what progress, what benefit? It is "two wings on the same bird of prey."

"But, as a Mormon, he'll never be number one, number two, or even number 200 on the ticket of a major political party."

Exactly! And no Mormon could ever even rise to the rank of Senate Majority Leader either.

Wait, what?

mitt flip phoney would destroy the ticket. i can see the ads now being played to make the south stay home and religious right rebel against the party. this article is nothing more than a political ploy from o romney boy..he is a looser! period he will never win nothing!

Romney has proven he is a genius when it comes to economics. Religion aside, he is the person that can best lead the nation out of the current economic crunch.

Why does everyone assume that if you don't like Romney it's because you're anti-Mormon? Can't you just dislike him as a candidate because you disagree with his past record and aren't impressed with his personality? Can't you support Huckabee because you like his policies (Fair Tax, pro-life, pro-family) and his personality without immediately assuming an evangelical bias? I think Romney's supporters need to accept the fact that despite the money he spent he couldn't buy his way into most of America's hearts. If anything, that was the turn-off.

What Springmeyer means is that if Romney is on the ticket, Utahns (especially Mormons) will turn out in droves to check the big "R" on the ballot to vote for Shifty Mitt.

McSame will still lose, but the high voter turnout in Utah will guarantee that Huntsman is reelected.

The Gov is pretty much a sure bet any way you look at it.

No need to worry about McCain picking Romney, McCain and his mother made very clear their true feelings towards Saints on national tv. McCain mocked Romney and did not attempt to hide his disdain for him during the primary.

Romney should step back and take a pass on this election.

Can you help me out by defining what a "bill that comes out of a closed caucus" is?

Does the bill say "Closed Caucus Legislation" on it? If so, fantastic - please show me the link where I can see one.

If not, how do you suppose that Mr. Springmeyer would be able to reconcile his 'veto' book with his campaign rhetoric?

Bob-

The Republican's veep pick is the least of your worries. Although this is a great ploy to get your unknown name in the paper.

You could also call Huntsman the Anti-Christ and that would get you on the front page of every paper. That worked for your losertarian opponent last week.

Jon wrote: "I don't get how the VP choice would affect local elections. Can anyone explain this?"

It's all about turnout: Utahns excited about voting for a presidential ticket with Mitt (most likely Republicans) are also very likely to vote for Huntsman for governor. If they are not interested in voting for McCain (read: no McMitt ticket), they may not turn out for the election at all. Typically, supressed turnout favors the challenger, which is what Springmeyer is hoping for. Big turnout among Republicans will kill him.

Bob Who?

Somebody implied the senate majority leader is mormon? Is clown prince harry mormon? I would have thought otherwise based on his pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage votes.

Bob I hate to tell you it is already over. Just go fishing now and catch one for me also.

Nice tie, Bob.

Harry Reid is in fact a practicing Mormon.

Insulting cliches, illiterate nick names, mindless comparisons, pointless analogies. You are a master of the irrelevant. If you represent this "Change We Can Believe In" new politics, we are in for a long more-of-the-same socialist, government boondoggle presidency. But, Obama is cool and that seems to count, neither of whic applies to you.

The Senate Majority Leader, is Mormon, and he has the same views about abortion as the LDS has. "Abortion should be limited to the endangerment of the life of the mother", not used as a form of "Birth Control"!!! The Senate Majority Leader just does not want to take away the option of Medical Necessity, being that a woman has the right to make that decision for Healthcare Reasons, not for Birth Control or aborting the fetus because one does not want it!!!

I live in Nevada and I think Harry Reid needs a lot more practice at being a Mormon.

Bob Springmeyer's chance of being elected governor of Utah are between zero and none. It is sad that the democrats fail to put up a credible candidate. I am sure Springmeyer is a good guy and all, but that is never a real political issue. It doesn't matter who McCain selects for VP it will make little difference to Utahns.

Springmeyer assumes that if you aren't going to vote for the McCain ticket that you may as well stay home or vote for him. This attitude has created the political situation that we now find ourselves in, having to vote for the lessor of two evils. There are congressional as well as state and local candidates to vote for. There is attention that needs to be paid to our Utah legislative candidates. I guess Bob assumes that voters think these races are unimportant to voters if Romney is not on the ballot?

I am a Republican State delegate and I will NOT vote for Gov. Huntsman, but a vote for Springmeyer is a waste. I will vote for "Superdell" because this will at least be recognized as a Protest vote, where a vote for a democrat will not be.

"Exactly! And no Mormon could ever even rise to the rank of Senate Majority Leader either."

Exactly!

Deseret News, *please* stop calling Democrats "Demos." No one else but you uses that abbreviation--everyone else calls them "Dems."

Why does the majority of this state believe it is perfectly fine to vote for a candidate (Romney) solely because of his religion (LDS)??

Re: Greg

You are right Greg. That would be like voting for a candidate just because of his race, or if he was a war hero, or any other limited reason. Everything about a candidate must go on the scale. It is wrong to choose solely on single items; either for, or against.

Romney is solid guy, but McCain would be dead in the water if he chose him. This country is less ready for a mormon in the white house than they are for a black man. Either bigotry is gross, but it's out there, and all over. McCain would also be dead in water if he chose Huckabee. The guy is an idiot, and it's a sad fact that he actually made it as far as he did. It's shocking what people will fall for these days! Our government is a mess and it doesn't look like it will improve anytime soon. I mean, look at who we have to choose from! Totally Clueless Snake in Sheeps Clothing and Old White Haired Guy. Depressing.

The same reason some folks won't vote for Mitt because he is LDS.

I will not vote for Gov Huntsman either. But I think I will vote for Superdell because we need someone that will probably have the guts if not the grace to stand up to the status quo.

We in Utah are so blinded by the Republican (good) versus Democrat (bad) ruse that we fall prey to every red herring that comes along. Mitt Romney is a good example. We think he is good with national economics because he ran some businesses well. We think he would be a good VP because he is Mormon. We don't look past the exterior. He is a globalist like Huntsman. He would steer us away from the constitution, probably unwittingly which might be worse than willfully. I am LDS but would vote for Chuck Baldwin, a baptist, before I would vote for a Huntsman, Leavitt, or a Romney. I care about a principled man more than a socially-practiced man.

As much as I'd like to see Mitt Romney on the ticket, I think it would be even better if McCain asked Romney and Romney turned the job down because of McCain's liberal positions.

This would send a slap in the face to center-leaning Republicans who think they can win by leaving Conservatives in the dust.

It would also get a lot more people behind him for a 2012 Presidential run.

Umm...greg, yes, Romney is Mormon but for many people in this state the reason they support him is not is religion but his leadership skills as evidenced by the Winter Olympics, private business and as governor of Massachusetts. I have a bum neighbor that is Mormon that I certainly wouldn't vote for as president. You want to talk about voting for some one simply because of religion look more at Huckabee. Religion is the ONLY reason he made it as far as he did.

I just laughed at the comment of Mike Huckabee quoted in the article. I'm not that familiar with all religions, but I'm pretty sure that whole Jesus Christ/Lucifer/War in the Heavens is in the Bible, which Huckabee teaches.

Not all southern evangelicals dislike Mormons, but there is a group that is especially vocal. They are the same who constantly have to justify why they live in mansions, have their own jets, which fly them off to their vacation homes in the Bahamas. The fact is, they are nuts ... loose cannons. There is growing respect and positive enthusiam for the LDS people in the south because they are good, kind people who love their neighbors.
Haven't we learned enough about governors from Arkansas? Mitt would be OK.

So a Mormon guy thinks another Mormon guy would be a good VP choice.

Are we surprised by this?

RE: 3:08 - I agree..Huckabee getting votes for his religion is appalling.

Mitt has some valid qualifications but I find it hard to believe that a similarly qualified candidate would have received such overwhelming backing from Utahans.

I'm against voting for or excluding any candidate on religion alone. I was simply pointing out the other side to the "people won't vote for a Mormon".