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Mark Crockett and Mike Winder will face off in a June primary for the GOP nomination for Salt Lake County Mayor. Republicans like Crockett to win that contest, while Democrats and our readers think Winder is the pick.

We also asked what effect Mitt Romney will have in Utah at the top of the ticket in November. Republicans and our readers think Democrats better run for the hills.

 

Some anonymous comments:

"Mike and Mark are both flawed candidates but Mike has much better name recognition and that will win the day in a primary battle. Neither one has enough money or is inspirational enough to dramatically change the narrative among rank and file voters."

"Republicans think they can do no wrong. With Winder they get two for the price of one. The Burwash Winder ticket will work out perfectly for Ben (McAdams)."

"Please, no more Richard Burwash jokes."

"They both carry a lot of baggage, but I think Republicans will pick Winder, or...what was the name he used???"

"Winder has the name recognition and grassroots organization to win this battle. He also can coalesce voters on the west side to beat McAdams in the fall."

"Burwash and his cows have the name identification."

"He will win based on name recognition. People will have forgotten or forgiven Burwash incident by then."

"Mike Winder is blatantly dishonest. The fact that he is running is increased evidence of his unbridled ambition and lack of self-awareness."

"I think Mike will win off of name recognition, but Crockett should win based on merit."

"Winder will win. He's got the more skeevy reputation, an admitted liar and a cheat: Perfect to be a Republican Nominee in Utah."

Some anonymous comments:

"This will be the toughest year for democrats...ever!"

"Too many people vote for a special candidate and he is one. Many will just vote straight Republican with him at the head of the ticket without really knowing or caring about the rest of the candidates."

"Somewhere in the middle...I don't think Democrats will be "washed away," but it will affect the elections in some districts."

"We will have to see how long the coat tails are."

"Tough year for Democrats. Best case scenario for dems is that they are independents and will try to prove it by splitting their down ballots."

"It all depends on whether or not Romney continues catering to the extreme right. If he does, I think you will see a movement against right-wing candidates across the country. Republicans will still vote for Romney, no matter how they actually feel about him, but I don't think Congress, Senate, or state governments will continue to be filled by them."

"If Romney runs hard to the moderate middle for the November election, it could easily blunt the local GOP wave. And given his familiarity with running to many different places on the political spectrum, I think the chances are good."

"I anticipate the Dems losing another few seats in both the State House and State Senate."

"There will be an increased awareness by the general public to avoid a straight party vote, Romney will do well but he won't have the coat tail that many think he will have."

"Mormon Democrats may vote for Romney but will vote Democratic down-ticket. The Republican wave will definitely hurt Democratic candidates but it will not be a tidal-wave."

"This will be a record breaking year for Republicans in Utah."

"The Mormon democrat theme is fine, but it doesn't hold any water...or electoral weight."

Respondents include - 

Fred Adams, Stuart Adams, Jess Agraz, Scott Anderson, Patrice Arent, Bruce Baird, Tom Barberi, Heather Barney, Steve Barth, Jeff Bell, Tom Berggren, Mike Bertelsen, Ron Bigelow, Rob Bishop, Laura Black, Jim Bradley, Ralph Brown, Ken Bullock, Chris Bleak, Curt Bramble, Ralph Brown, Aaron Browning, Dave Buhler, Ken Bullock, Ric Cantrell, Maura Carabello, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Kay Christensen, David Clark, Thomas Clay, Peter Corroon, Fred Cox, Lew Cramer, Gene Davis, Richard Davis, Brad Daw, Alan Dayton, Margaret Dayton, Mike Deaver, Brad, Dee, Joseph Demma, John Dougall, Randy Dryer, Donald Dunn, Becky Edwards, Scott Ericson, Jessica Fawson, Janice Fisher, Wendy Fisher, Lorie Fowlke, Ronald Fox, Adam Gardiner, Jordan Garn, Luke Garrott, Dave Gessel, Natalie Gochnour, Robert Grow, Karen Hale, David Hansen, Neil Hansen, Joe Hatch, Jeff Hartley, Deidre Henderson, Lyle Hillyard, Randy Horiuchi, Ben Horsley, Bruce Hough, Scott Howell, Miriam Hyde, Allison Isom, Eric Jergensen, Mike Jerman, Roger Johnson, Michael Jolley, Gordon Jones, Leslie Jones, Kirk Jowers, Brian King, Scott Konopasek, Chris Kyler, Fred Lampropoulos, Douglas Larson, David Litvack, Larry Lunt, Matt Lyon, Ben McAdams, Gayle McKeachnie, JT Martin, Jason Mathis, Karen Mayne, Derek Miller, Rob Miller, Ethan Millard, Brett Millburn, Karen Morgan, Mike Mower, Holly Mullen, Wayne Niederhauser, Mike Noel, Ralph Okerlund, James Olsen, Val Oveson, Scott Parson, Kelly Patterson, Frank Pignanelli, Jason Powers, Joe Pyrah, Mike Reberg, Jill Remington Love, Lauren Richards, Holly Richardson, Robin Riggs, James Roberts, Luz Robles, Ross Romero, Don Savage, Bryan Schott, Jay Seegmiller, Patrick Shea, Randy Shumway, Soren Simonsen, Jeremy Slaughter, Carol Spackman-Moss, Howard Stephenson, Mike Styler, Todd Taylor, Juliette Tennert, Gary Thorup, Kevin Van Tassell, Royce Van Tassel, Michael Waddoups, Chuck Warren, Christine Watkins, LaVarr Webb, Todd Weiler, Alan West, Ted Wilson, Carl Wimmer, Mike Winder, Thomas Wright