But the timing of the law's passage and the selective way it has been used reveals more about the Legislature than the candidate who doesn't sign the pledge.

When Jenny Wilson declined to refrain from scurrilous attacks on candidates or their families, among other things, her detractors were quick to notify the news media.

Her reason, she said, was a section in the pledge that holds the candidate responsible for "any individual or group" which "violates the spirit of this pledge."

Wilson was concerned the pledge could be used to criticize her or any other candidate for the actions of someone not affiliated with the campaign.

The legislation creating the pledge was passed by the Republican-dominated Legislature in response to a sleazy flier distributed in the waning hours of the 2004 campaign season that targeted several Republican candidates in Salt Lake County.

Republican leaders were outraged, justifiably, and wanted accountability for the "Truth in Politics" flier, since it was difficult to trace its source.

The legislation creating the pledge was SB55, sponsored by Senate President Al Mansell, who did not run for re-election in 2006. His hand-picked successor, Wayne Niederhauser, was running against Democrat Trisha Beck, who earlier had served in the House but lost when her district was severely gerrymandered.

An 11th-hour flier was sent to constituents in that Sandy Senate district that falsely implied Beck was in favor of legalizing marijuana.

No outrage came from the Legislature, nor from Mansell, who had authored the "Fair Campaign Pledge" bill.

Former Salt lake County Democratic Chairman Joe Hatch remembers about 10 years ago when Jackie Biskupski, who is openly gay, was running for the House in a central Salt Lake City district.

A last-minute flier was distributed by a mysterious group that attempted to assassinate Biskupski's character, decrying her "criminal lifestyle."

After the election, it was revealed the flier was funded by conservative lobbyists and legislators from Utah County.

Campaign fliers sent last year blasted several Democratic legislators - all with the same message - that made misleading comments about their voting records. The fliers were funded by pro-voucher groups targeting those anti-voucher legislators. But the fliers didn't acknowledge that.

And there was no outrage from the Legislature.

The targets of those Republican Party tactics aren't just Democrats. Sometimes they are other Republicans.

Republican Rep. Paul Ray of Clearfield had mentioned in his re-election campaign material a few years ago that he had been given a "Friend of the Taxpayer" award from the Utah Taxpayers Association, which was true.

But the morning of the primary election, his constituents received fliers on their doorsteps quoting Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, the president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, who was supporting Ray's Republican opponent, Dana Love. Stephenson chastised Ray for claiming he was endorsed by the Taxpayers Association, even though Ray never claimed that. Ray lost the primary to Love, but reclaimed his seat two years later.

Stephenson and Mansell also sent 11th-hour letters in both the Republican convention and the Republican primary unfairly attacking former Republican Rep. Dave Hogue, who angered the right wing of his party by not voting for vouchers.

Stunningly, those attacks by certain elements of the GOP caused no attempts to create a "Fair Campaign" pledge.