Rex Rammell has had to change the colorful graphics on his giant, decorated "Conservative Express" RV twice in the last month and a half. First, he changed, "Time for a new kind of Senator" to "Time for a new kind of Congressman," when the former independent candidate for U.S. Senate decided to take on U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson next year in the GOP primary. "We just covered up the words, so it didn't cost very much," Rammell said. Then, the graphics had to be readjusted again - now "Congressman" has been replaced with "Governor."

Rammell announced today that he'll run for governor as a Republican, challenging Gov. Butch Otter in the GOP primary if Otter decides to seek another term. "I watched what Butch had done," Rammell said. "He reminded me of a guy that's not going to run for re-election. Usually, if you want to be re-elected, you don't go cause a bunch of trouble." Added Rammell, "I could be totally wrong." He said his observation of politicians shows that "these guys, when they're up for re-election, they're pretty careful, every one of 'em. And he totally isn't at all."

Rammell said if he ends up running against the incumbent governor in the primary, "My position would be that Butch had done a lot of damage to himself by picking a fight with the Legislature, and he would be vulnerable to defeat by a Democrat in 2010." Otter hasn't yet said if he'll seek another term when his first term ends next year; nor have any other candidates announced for the race, from any party.