Is it going to be remembered as the election year of Voucher Vengeance? Many Legislative challengers are pinning their hopes on the public's rage over last year's referendum vote to propel them into office.

"Republican legislators voted wrongly and never thought they'd have to answer for it, but in November they will have to answer," says State Democratic Chairman Wayne Holland.

But Republican incumbents say the dust-up over educational vouchers is a fading fast for voters. After all, the voters spanked the Legislature decisively in the referendum and have moved on. In other words, Wayne, lawmakers have answered for it.

"Vouchers will not be an issue in anyone's political future," anti-voucher target Sen. Mike Waddoups told the Tribune.

The acid test could be candidate Lisa Johnson, anti-voucher spokeswoman for Utahns for Public Schools, who is betting on Rep. Greg Hughes' aggressive voucher support to bring down the big lug:

"People have not felt a connection to their representatives. But with vouchers, people got involved in a way they hadn't gotten involved in before. They realized their views weren't being respected."

Hughes, a free-market zealot, doesn't seen any voucher blowback except with education "zealots." But Hughes, above with voucher money man Patrick Byrne, has another weakness. Anyone who has had any contact with him, including fellow lawmakers, are struck by his arrogance. Remember bully boy Hughes who called fellow Republican Sen. "Wild Bill" Hickman a "f***ing midget?" (And, no, I don't mean farting midget, though I like the image.)

Voucher vengeance emerges again in the attorney general race. State School Board lawyer Jean Welch Hill is challenging A.G. Mark Shurtleff. Shurtleff and the board clashed over vouchers, leaving Hill to advise the board. Her savvy was confirmed by a Supreme Court decision. But who remembers?

The real challenge is to get Utah Republicans to even hesitate before they jab the GOP box on the touch screen. And forget about that if Mitt Romney turns up as John McCain's running mate.

Gov. Jon Huntsman's popularity is obvious in the opposition that has filed against him. The only opponents with any name recognition are bat-sh*t crazy "Super Dell" Schanze and developer Monty "Millionaire" Nafoosi, best known for his pending marijuana possession charge.

Likewise with Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson, who faces Bill Dew, a developer from Sandy; Kenneth Gray, an author who supports oil shale development; some constitutionalist and two other guys. And, of course, GOP punching bag Merrill Cook, who probably won't survive the convention.

To help sort the mess out, the Provo Daily Herald offers a list of candidate nicknames, including:

• "SUPERDELL" Dell Schanze, Governor, Libertarian

• Monty "Millionaire" Nafoosi, Governor, Democrat

• Eric "The Hammer" Hanna, House District 42, Republican

• Demar "Bud" Bowman, Utah House District 72, Republican

• "Cowboy" Ted Hallisey, Utah House District 73, Democrat