The GOP candidate clock begins to tick

Now that Kevin Mannix is widely expected to enter the GOP primary for the 5th congressional district, the Democratic candidates for Secretary of State and Attorney General can stop using him as their potential general election straw man opponent. Although, it was the Attorney General race Mannix was seriously considering prior to Rep. Darlene Hooley announcing her retirement.

The remaining question to be answered this election cycle is whether or not any GOP candidates will run statewide. Some are speculating that former congressional candidate and lawyer Jim Zupancic is considering a run for either Attorney General or Treasurer. However, with a shortage of qualified GOP attorneys who would be willing to run, the AG spot seems slightly more suitable. Another possible statewide GOP candidate might include former labor commissioner and Supreme Court candidate Jack Roberts whose moderate background could be appealing in a general election.

Other ideas being thrown around by GOP insiders are to move businessman Mike Erickson out of the 5th CD race and into the Secretary of State race where he could transfer all of his federal dollars into state dollars and head into the general election against a war torn Democrat who will have to start from scratch.

Finally, it appears that Treasurer candidate Ben Westlund is getting a free ride by both is Democratic and Republican colleagues. He locked up key endorsements from both labor and business in addition to nearly all his colleagues in the legislature and more are likely to come. One endorsement curiously missing? Incumbent Treasurer Randall Edwards. Regardless, this gives Westlund a great opportunity to raise money for his probable campaign for governor in 2010.