And yes, his entry into the political fray took friends and family by surprise.
"I had to convince them that it's not a joke or a bet," Jacobs said.
On Saturday, delegates at the GOP's state convention will vote to trim a crowded field of six down to two, and possibly one candidate if a favorite emerges with more than 60 percent of the vote. Otherwise, the two top vote-getters will face off in the June 24 primary.
The chosen GOP nominee will then tackle the task of trying to unseat four-term incumbent Jim Matheson, a moderate Democrat who enjoys some of the highest approval ratings in the state and has a war chest already stocked with more than $1 million .
Joining Jacobs on the GOP side are Merrill Cook, Bill Dew, Donald Ferguson, Kenneth Gray and Brian Jenkins. At this point, only two of the six have money to burn.
Cook collected $25,264 from donors and chipped in $8,000 of his own cash, while Sandy businessman Dew, in his first run for office, jump-started his campaign with a $250,000 loan.
Cook, from Salt Lake City, brings a mixed bag of political experience, having held the 2nd District Congressional seat from 1996 to 2000, but then getting eliminated in the Republican primary.
In 2004, Cook - who claims an independent streak - ran unsuccessfully as an unaffiliated candidate for Salt Lake County mayor. He realigned with the GOP in 2006 to challenge 3rd Congressional Rep. Chris Cannon, only to lose in convention.
How much does money and the name recognition that comes from experience matter in a high-level race?
"Quite honestly, I don't know any of those candidates except Merrill because he served before," said Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George. "I'll wait until we get to the convention and listen to what they have to say."
Hickman will tune his ear for someone who can help solve the the nation's weighty challenges, including energy independence, immigration and the weakening dollar,
"These problems are huge and don't seem to be getting addressed at this point."
Electability - that's what could win over the vote of Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights.
"Jim Matheson runs very, very strong and we have to look for viable candidates," Walker said.
While idealism may carry a candidate into the party's convention, the reality of funding a costly congressional campaign also factors into how delegates will vote.
"Even a great candidate can't get elected without money," Walker said.
cmckitrick@sltrib.com
Age: 61
Profession: businessman
Home: Salt Lake City
Reason for running: To renew the Contract with America - principles abandoned during the past few years by the very party that originated them.
Priorities: Tax reform, tax limitation, ending illegal immigration.
Age: 56
Profession: homebuilder
Home: Sandy
Reason for running: For my children's future. Because of the budget deficit and huge federal debt, they will not have the same economic opportunities I had.
Priorities: Make the Bush tax cuts permanent, reduce taxes to bring economic prosperity.
Age: 45
Profession: Truck driver
Home: South Salt Lake
Reason for running: As one of their own, I can give people true representation at the national level
Priorities: Reverse regulations that favor incumbents getting re-elected, reduce the perks that lawmakers receive.
Don Ferguson
Age: 45
Profession: Truck Driver
Home: South Salt Lake
Reason for running: As one of their own, I can give people true representation at the national level.
Priorities: Reverse regulations that favor incumbents getting re-elected, reduce the perks that lawmakers receive
Fun Fact: I met my wife while auditioning for a traveling LDS institute singing group. I had to visit seven different Denny's restaurants to find the one where she worked so I could ask her out.
Age: 67
Profession: Author, economist, database administrator
Home: Sandy
Reason for running: My research and writing about energy independence and federally controlled lands compelled me to make a difference.
Priorities: Get Utah's federally owned lands back on the tax rolls to fund education, amend energy policies to encourage private competition.
Age: 24
Profession: Marketing major at Southern Utah University
Home: Cedar City
Reason for running: I have a hard time with career politicians. New blood is good.
Priorities: Education tops the list. We have to find ways to reduce class size. We need to push employers to have higher standards to reduce illegal immigration.
Age: 47
Profession: Loan officer
Home: Saratoga Springs
Reason for running: If you want something done, you have to do it yourself.
Priorities: Reverse the Patriot Act, rein in out-of-control spending.
