Deputy U.S. Trade Rep. Huntsman and University of Utah Law School Dean Matheson debated on the Main Street plaza outside the KUTV studios in Salt Lake City.

Republican Governor Olene Walker took office on November 5, 2003, when Republican Governor Michael Leavitt resigned to become administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. However, Walker lost the party’s nomination to run for a full term at the Utah Republican convention, leading to a primary election.