Republican gubernatorial primaries have historically been heavy on organization and low on suspense.

That could change in 2011. Two viable Republican candidates have made their intentions known for 2011 and another is rumored to be strongly considering jumping into the race.

Since 1987, when Tupelo businessman Jack Reed easily dispatched Doug Lemon in the GOP primary for the right to face eventual Democratic Gov. Ray Mabus in the general election, Mississippi Republicans have generally kept their primaries small and free of heavy political artillery.

In 1991, political unknown Kirk Fordice overcame the favored Pete Johnson and Bobby Clanton to win the GOP nomination. The GOP second primary was a lesson in political hand-to-hand combat in Republican vote-rich Rankin County that Fordice won on the way to unseating Mabus in the 1991 general election.

Fordice faced token GOP primary opposition in 1995 from Richard O'Hara and George "Wagon Wheel" Blair on his way to defeating Democratic nominee Dick Molpus in the general election.

But in 1999, Republicans saw a wide open gubernatorial race develop between former GOP Lt. Gov. Eddie Briggs, former U.S. Rep. Mike Parker, then-state Rep. Charlie Williams, Crystal Springs Mayor Dan Gibson and perennial candidates Shawn O'Hara and Blair.

Parker won the nomination outright in the first primary by eight-tenths of a percent - but Briggs in second place took only 27.9 percent. Parker lost the general election to Democratic Lt. Gov. Ronnie Musgrove in one of the closest elections in Mississippi history - one that had to be decided by the Mississippi House of Representatives.

The 2003 race saw Haley Barbour crush political newcomer Mitch Tyner in the GOP primary with 83 percent of the vote. Barbour won 52.6 percent of the general election vote over Musgrove and a handful of minor party candidates.

In 2007, Barbour skated through a GOP primary with Frederick L. Jones, taking 93 percent of the vote. Barbour won the general election by 57.9 percent of the vote over Democratic challenger John Arthur Eaves Jr.

In 2011, it's clear that Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant is all but running for the GOP nomination. Bryant's made no secret of his intention to run and hasn't been coy when asked about it. He's running.

While not formally declared, Gulf Coast businessman Dave Dennis is likewise not being particularly coy about his intentions to make the 2011 Republican gubernatorial primary. It seems a certainty that Dennis will run.

In the last few weeks, there is growing talk that Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is close to entering the race. Hosemann isn't exactly bushwhacking reporters to put a stop to those rumors, either.

But the last time I directly asked Hosemann about it - some six weeks ago - he was coy about it with no definitive answer either way.

Out of the gate, Bryant is the clear favorite in a statewide race. He's never lost one in three races and against tough GOP primary opponents. Neither has Hosemann, but then he's only run one. Hosemann did lose a 1998 congressional bid in the old 4th District to Democratic former U.S. Rep. Ronnie Shows.

Dennis has never made a statewide race - has never made a political race period - which in this political season may prove more of a positive than a negative. Bryant is the favorite, but in a crowded GOP primary anything can happen. Dennis is a true outsider and Hosemann reshuffles the deck for Bryant. But Bryant's strength in Rankin and DeSoto counties remains his best hole cards.

Contact Sid Salter at (601) 961-7084. He is perspective editor for the Clarion-Ledger and a syndicated columnist. E-mail ssalter@clarionledger.com.