Gov. Mike Leavitt's re-election bid is still another two years off. But that hasn't stopped Leavitt from spending his weekends pressing flesh, kissing babies and stumping the Republican Party line.
As the unofficial captain of the Republican ship in Utah and the most popular governor in recent memory, Leavitt has found himself thrust into the middle of political campaigns."I try to be responsive to the needs of the Republican Party," Leavitt said, adding the party has certain expectations of a popular incumbent with bipartisan appeal.
So far, Leavitt has taped a television spot for Sen. Orrin Hatch and radio ads for congressional hope-fuls Jim Hansen and Enid Greene Waldholtz. Third District Republican candidate Dixie Thompson didn't ask for a Leavitt advertisement and Leavitt didn't offer.
"I did what I was asked to do, and I feel good about that," Leavitt said. In Thompson's case, she asked him to speak at a fund-raising dinner, and he agreed.
Campaigning for Thompson and Waldholtz could put Leavitt in an uncomfortable position. He gets along very well with Democratic incumbents Bill Orton and Karen Shepherd, and he needs their support on national legislation affecting Utah.
"Jake Garn taught me a fundamental rule about campaigning," he said. "It is that you campaign for people, not against their opponents. If people ask me to write letters (of endorsement), I take out any reference to the other candidate. I try to focus on what is redeeming about the candidate."
As far as the high-profile races for House and Senate, Leavitt has not been that actively involved. He has not sought out the limelight or evoked controversy by assailing Democratic incumbents. In fact, some might say Leavitt has kept a low profile in these races.
Considering that Leavitt's last job approval rating in a Deseret News/KSL poll was well over 80 percent, you might think that local Republican candidates would want to stand a bit closer to him.
Where Leavitt has tried to exert his political influence is in state legislative races. He has spent the past four weekends campaigning for state House and Senate Republican candidates.
Leavitt said this reflects a conscious decision to focus on political races where he could have the greatest impact. "I told the (Republican) Party they could have four weekends and they should choose the races," he said.
Leavitt has been stumping for Republican candidates in six to eight districts every Saturday, sometimes traveling more than 200 miles a day in the course of his campaigning. "It's been intense, a lot of hard work," he said.
It is up to the Republican Party to advertise the governor's appearance on behalf of certain candidates. Leavitt usually makes an appearance in a "town meeting" setting, makes a brief statement about Republican Party principles and offers a few insights as to where the state is headed politically and economically. As often as not, the Democratic candidate shows up to listen.
Leavitt has specifically chosen not to get involved in various county commission races where he could make a difference. "I am sure there are a lot of good candidates on the local level that would have appreciated the help," he said. "But I decided I could not dilute my time or influence I would have on the other races."
One campaign Leavitt has specifically not been involved with is Initiative A to mandate term limits of state and federal elected officials and to require runoff elections in those races where the winning candidate does not garner 50 percent of the votes.
Leavitt is strongly opposed to Initiative A because, he says, it unilaterally disarms Utah's congressional delegation with no assur-ance that other states will relinquish their seniority in Congress. But he didn't formally come out against Initiative A until his October monthly press conference. He was asked his opinion by a reporter.
Leavitt admits there is a certain awkwardness about existing officeholders campaigning against term limits, even though Initiative A would exempt those elected officials currently serving. "I wasn't asked to campaign against it, and I have not offered to do more."
But what he has done is exhausting, he says. And it's a vivid reminder of what lies ahead for Leavitt when he runs for re-election in 1996.