Electoral Clock Ticking for Herbert?

"Gary R. Herbert was sworn in Tuesday as Utah's 17th governor, and with nine months until the state Republican Party convention, he must work quickly to convince delegates he should be their nominee next year. Utah election law specifies that Herbert must run in a special contest in 2010 to fill out the remainder of former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s term. If he wins, Herbert will have to run again in 2012. ... 'The clock is ticking because it takes time to get a statewide campaign together,' said [BYU's] Quin Monson ... Some high-profile Republican names are being tossed around, including two state senators, John Valentine and Steve Urquhart, House Speaker David Clark, and Kirk Jowers, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. Jowers said he could make a decision by Labor Day. On the Democratic side, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon would be the party's best hope if he decides to run."