Calling a re-election of Sen. Bob Bennett "insanity," Utah attorney general Mark Shurtleff announced his 2010 candidacy to unseat the three-term Republican.

Shurtleff, himself a Republican, painted an ominous picture of the country's condition.

"We conservatives can all see that we are over 100 days down a dangerous slippery slope to socialism," he said in his coming out speech on Wednesday. He repeatedly decried Democrats' policies and actions, saying that "time is of the essence in saving our country."

But his sharpest barbs were reserved for Bennett.

"Einstein quipped: 'Insanity means doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result' -- and he was right," Shurtleff said, of keeping Bennett around for another term.

Specifically, he targeted Bennett for his part in engineering the $700 billion bank bailout plan last fall. It was that effort that has drawn much criticism from Utah's conservatives and set up Shurtleff's run.

Shurtleff warned against the type of intra-party victory that freshman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, had against longtime incumbent Chris Cannon in 2008.

"He's not Chris Cannon," he said of Bennett. "He's not."

That's true, said Kirk Jowers of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.

"Cannon had endured a series of difficult races," Jowers said of the former representative being repeatedly challenged and "generally disliked."

"Bennett seems to be personally well-liked and respected, but there are pockets of dislike against him."

And unlike Chaffetz, Jowers doesn't see Shurtleff able to get through on a shoestring budget.

Shurtleff said Wednesday that he plans to raise $250,000 by July 1 and up to $2 million to combat Bennett, who has been endorsed by Utah favorite son Mitt Romney. That's the kind of money he needs to raise, but Jowers said it won't be easy.

"I can't quite figure out where he's going to get it," he said.

For Bennett's part, he's taking full advantage of Romney's endorsements, featuring the former presidential candidate prominently on his Web site and including him in early ads.

Shurtleff's best chance may be to defeat Bennett in the Republican convention next year. There, several thousand delegates -- typically made up of the most conservative of the party -- can choose their candidate outright with 60 percent of the vote.

"Convention is always the most dangerous part," said Jowers, though he gives Shurtleff "almost no chance" to win there.

During the announcement Wednesday, Utah County Sens. Mark Madsen and Curt Bramble stood with Shurtleff on the steps of the Capitol, though Bramble had said earlier in the day that he wasn't ready to support either candidate. Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, said he has not backed either candidate.

There is at least one more Republican who has announced an intention to run. Tim Bridgewater of Provo pulled out of the race for state party chairman to instead run against Bennett and Shurtleff.

Shurtleff's talking points

• Taxes are too high

• The country is on "the brink of socialism"

• Bennett has had 18 years to get things done and has failed

• No more federal bailouts of banks or ownership of private companies

• Constitutional amendment to balance the budget

Related

• Cannon personally sued for unpaid campaign work