The Reno News & Review is repeating some fascinating rumors that Mitt Romney might establish residency in Nevada and attempt to unseat fellow Mormon Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. You'll remember that Mitt is trying to dump his Utah palace in Deer Valley (Big sigh of relief from Sen. Bob Bennett).

The Boston Phoenix's David Bernstein unveils the whole plot:

Mitt vs. Harry Reid? If you’re looking to sell a palatial estate in Nevada, I think I might know somebody who’ll be looking to buy soon. … Hint: Mormonism is an asset in Nevada. . . .

The genius of running against Reid is that, win or lose, Romney becomes a hero to the GOP just for taking it on. I think he’s planning to do it.

Meanwhile, as the GOP continues to try to find the bottom of its popularity, Romney and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman continue to be go-to guys for finding a new conservative compass. Politico quotes our Guv like some kind of guru:

It’s just a matter of enduring the early days of transformation – it’s never going to be pretty and it’s never going to be fun to watch it play out beyond a pure entertainment level. We haven’t had a healthy, rigorous discussion about our future in many years, and meanwhile the world has changed. Unless we want to be consigned to minority-party status for a long time, we need to recognize these tectonic shifts happening under our feet.

Right now, you're saying, "Who is this tough-talkin' dude? The Jon Huntsman I know can't even stand up to the mouth breathers in the Utah Legislature."

With the best part of the legislative session ahead — who knows? — maybe we'll see Jon's recently grown iron fist ungloved at home.