And then they quickly staked a claim to her supporters.

Some pundits insist Workman's re-election bid is shot - even if she's not charged with misusing county funds.

For her part, Workman said late Wednesday she is still in the race.

But there surely will be fallout. So in a county where most voters are Republican, which candidate benefits most from the Republican mayor's problems?

Is it Democrat Peter Corroon, who tops the most recent poll but is relatively unknown? Or is it independent Merrill Cook, who has run - and won - as a Republican and represented Utah in Congress, but later was shunned by the GOP?

While pollster and University of Utah professor Dan Jones says the question is premature - "I don't know that it's a nail in the coffin. She's got to do something to stop the bleeding" - he predicts the spoils will go to Cook because conservatives would rather vote for him than a Democrat.

Jones' latest poll - conducted in early August for the bipartisan consulting Exoro Group - gives Corroon 33 percent, Workman 23 percent and Cook 15 percent. About a fifth of respondents are undecided. It's the first time Workman has trailed in a poll.

"It really puts [Cook] in the game. He becomes a major player now," Jones says. "Corroon's got a lead but can he keep it in a county that is 2-to-1 Republican?"

Tim Chambless, another U. political science professor, guesses Corroon stands to gain the most because he is a newcomer and Cook carries some baggage. Some GOP leaders opposed Cook's congressional re-election bid in 2000. He lost in the primary. "[Corroon] probably wears the scarlet D as a Democrat but that may not hurt him now," Chambless says.

Corroon doesn't note he's a Democrat on his lawn signs. And Cook is barely running, though he says he plans to step up his campaign. Cook says he fielded "20 to 30" phone calls Wednesday from Republicans who supported Workman but are saying, "You're the best hope now to keep the seat from going Democrat."

Officially, the Republican Party is backing Workman, but Tiani Coleman, the GOP's Salt Lake County chairwoman, says that could change if the mayor is charged.

Corroon says he doesn't know how the latest development will affect the race, but he hopes Workman's supporters "come to us."

He would not say if the mayor should be charged, but calls her actions "inappropriate and unethical."

Cook says the mayor should be charged. "I don't say that gleefully. It's a sad day for Nancy Workman."

Says Corroon: "We should all be saddened by the events we have seen unfold over the last couple of months."

hmay@sltrib.com

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Tribune reporter Thomas Burr contributed to this story.