Party insiders are ecstatic that Love emerged from the convention — “A star was born,” state GOP Chairman Thomas Wright exclaimed — and see her as the strongest challenger to Matheson.
“I think Matheson would have preferred to have anybody but Mia come out of the convention because she is going to be tough to beat,” said Jeff Hartley, a Utah lobbyist and former state GOP executive director.
(See also related Washington Times and Yahoo! News stories.)

