Joining New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Huntsman is pitching the idea of a regional primary early in February 2008.

"We would like our states better represented in terms of candidates from both parties coming through and hearing out our uniquely Western issues," Huntsman said Thursday at his monthly KUED news conference. "This is worth pursuing."

In 2000, former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt was the driving force behind a presidential primary. But only 10 percent of voters went to the polls, the candidates largely skipped over Utah and other states ended up dropping out. The Western States Primary was scrapped.

Last year, Richardson persuaded the Western Governors' Association to draft a resolution supporting another coordinated primary. Utah Democrats staged a presidential primary in 2004 - only Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich stopped to stump.

Huntsman insists this time will be different. He's working with Richardson, a Democrat, in a nonpartisan partnership distinct from earlier "unilateral" primary proposals. They are determined to find a date after the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary but before Super Tuesday. And the states have been pared down. Montana and Wyoming have signed on. Huntsman plans to talk to governors from Idaho and Nevada this week. Colorado is a "possibility."

Huntsman hopes a regional primary will lure presidential candidates to visit normally overlooked states.