Lt. Gov. Val Oveson's retreat from the 1992 governor's race opens things up a bit.
Oveson said Thursday that he won't run next year because he lacks the fire in the belly to conduct a 15-month campaign and make the personal and family sacrifices that running for governor requires.No one has a slam dunk win in the open seat. But certainly Oveson had as good a shot as any Republican and better than most.
After all, as lieutenant governor Oveson traveled the state the past seven years talking to citizens of all political persuasions. One of the main jobs of the lieutenant governor is filling in for the governor when the chief executive isn't available.
Oveson has done that admirably, along the way making friends by the thousands.
When Gov. Norm Bangerter couldn't stop by to help a municipal, county or legislative GOP candidate, Oveson was there. When Bangerter couldn't cut a ribbon or kiss a baby, Oveson was there.
Oveson built up a lot of good will and political favors.
Polls that I've seen of current GOP delegates always show Oveson in a favorable light. Whether that good will would translate into votes in a contested state convention or into volunteer work in a primary election is another thing. But, again, Oveson was well positioned for the race.
Now, Oveson is out.
Gubernatorial candidate Mike Leavitt is probably the most immediate beneficiary of Oveson's departure.
No one knows for sure how the 1992 GOP state delegates will line up. But certainly Oveson and Leavitt, both moderate Republicans of about the same age, would have been working from the same political base.
Oveson out means more room for Leavitt, an insurance executive and former GOP campaign consultant.
Before Oveson's departure, conventional wisdom said that if U.S. Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, got in the governor's race he'd have the inside track on arch-conservative GOP state delegates and 1st Congressional District delegates as well.
Such a head start - along with Hansen's general good name identification - would likely mean he'd get out of the GOP state convention and into a Republican primary. That would leave Leavitt, Oveson and any other Republican candidates fighting for the remaining, single primary ballot spot.
Assuming writer-lecturer Richard Eyre, also a Republican, gets in the governor's race - and brings with him a number of his own, unique followers - then the GOP convention would look pretty iffy for Oveson and Leavitt.
But now Oveson is gone. If Hansen decides to stay in the 1st District, then it's very likely more GOP candidates will get in the race. For there would only be Leavitt, who is not well-known now among Utahns, or even among many Republicans, and Eyre.
Perhaps House Speaker Craig Moody, R-Sandy, will look at the governor's race. Moody is now looking at the U.S. Senate contest.
Or we could see someone come out of the blue, like former Democratic Gov. Scott Matheson came out of nowhere to seek the Democratic nomination in 1976.
Oveson thinks there will be "a lot of surprises" in the GOP gubernatorial contest before the final field is set at the candidate filing deadline, April 15, 1992.
"I think you'll see somebody really big get in, a name we'd all recognize. Or you may see just the opposite. Over time most may get out and leave just one strong contender. I don't know. But we definitely haven't seen the field set yet," Oveson says.