Republican Jon Huntsman Jr. is leading Democrat Scott Matheson Jr. 48.8 percent to 33 percent, according to a new statewide Salt Lake Tribune poll.

The survey found that if the election were held today, Matheson would need to win all undecided voters in order to beat Huntsman.

Conducted by Valley Research among 1,199 registered voters statewide, the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.

"It's flattering," said Huntsman spokesman Jason Chaffetz.

But Chaffetz added the campaign is taking nothing for granted.

"Our No. 1 job is just to make sure we get voters out to vote on Nov. 2," he said. "So we've got to roll up our shirtsleeves."

The Matheson camp was skeptical of the new poll, which clashes with one it just released showing the race in a dead heat.

"I find the results [of The Tribune survey] quite surprising," said campaign manager Mike Zuhl. "Our own internal polling shows this race much closer."

Zuhl said many voters are keeping open minds about who they will vote for in the governor's race - the first in 12 years without an incumbent.

"There's still some fluidity in the race. I really believe people are just beginning to focus on the race, and because it's an open seat, they're going to take a look at both candidates."

Matheson, son of Utah's last Democratic chief executive, the late Gov. Scott Matheson Sr., is clearly a star among minority-party voters in the state. More than eight in 10 say they support him. But he is splitting the independent vote with Huntsman (42 percent to 39 percent in favor of Matheson) and picking up just under 16 percent of Republican support, according to the poll.

Huntsman has the support of nearly 64 percent of Republicans and about 12 percent of Democrats in the poll.

The problem for Matheson is that the pool of self-described Republican voters is more than twice as large as that of Democrats.

A successful Democratic candidate must reach across party lines and snatch a substantial share of the GOP vote.

When asked to identify their political leanings, 58.1 percent described themselves as Republican, 16.4 percent as Democrat and 17.5 percent as independent.

Eight percent said they identified with some other party or said they didn't know their affiliation.

Utah Democratic Party Chairman Donald Dunn says Matheson is very much in the running.

"This is a race that Scott Matheson can win," said Dunn.

"I'm surprised Huntsman is not doing as well as he could with the Republicans," said Dunn. "Huntsman is doing some strange things, he seems to be pandering to the right wing - like paying for Sean Hannity to come in."

Hannity, a conservative radio and television show host, has been scheduled to speak at Utah Valley State College to "balance" the appearance of filmmaker Michael Moore, a critic of President Bush.

Dunn's suggestion Huntsman is playing to the right wing is "hogwash," said Chaffetz.

"We think it's healthy that both Hannity and Moore are there. Debate's a good thing and if you think you're on the right side, you'll welcome debate.

"Jon is clearly a Republican. If we just get Republicans to come home and vote for the ticket, Jon will do well. But we're also reaching out to all Utahns."