Idaho legislators often exaggerate their fame as they imagine themselves holding higher office, but the four Republicans running the House are superstars.

The House GOP's defining battle with Gov. Butch Otter over fuel taxes has made Speaker Lawerence Denney and his three lieutenants the most prominent leadership team in memory. The House has dominated the media, been celebrated at two anti-tax "tea parties" and withstood pressure from Otter and the Senate.

Denney, a mild, nonconfrontational farmer from Midvale who keeps his own counsel, has shared the limelight with Majority Leader Mike Moyle of Star, Assistant Leader Scott Bedke of Oakley and Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts of McCall.

Typically, the spotlight is owned by the top guys. Speakers like Mike Simpson and Senate president pro tems like Jim Risch, both now in Congress, personified the Legislature during their eras.

Denney's modest style has allowed his underlings to grow and aspire. Moyle is being rumored as a possible candidate for governor in 2010 whether Republican Otter runs again or not. This talk likely started among those disappointed with Otter who see Moyle as a true conservative with guts.

Moyle acknowledged being urged to run. "Yeah. So what? I'm not going to run against Butch Otter for governor. He's my friend. And it's a thankless job."

If Otter didn't seek a second term? "You never say never."

Moyle also could stay in the House, where he'd have the inside track to be speaker when Denney goes. But Bedke also has a crack at succeeding Denney, with or without Moyle in a race. And Roberts is considering running for the 1st District U.S. House seat against first-term Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick.

But don't count Denney out of the mix. He told me Tuesday that he will take a serious look at running for state treasurer should GOP incumbent Ron Crane challenge Minnick in 2010.

Crane is looking like a congressional candidate, having spent last week in Washington, D.C., introducing himself to funders and interest groups. Crane is a natural to assume the no-new-tax mantle of former Rep. Bill Sali, whom Minnick beat in 2008. Sali is considering seeking a possible rematch and has asked supporters to pray for him as he weighs his decision. Vaughn Ward of Eagle is already in.

"I perceive that Ron is going to run for Congress," Denney said, adding that he'd back Crane, who represented Canyon County in the Idaho House from 1982 to 1998. "I like Bill, but I think Ron has a much better chance of winning Canyon County by enough to win the 1st District."

Denney informed his leadership team of his ambition in the last 10 days and said he'll make up his mind by September. "We'll see what happens," he said. "By the end of the summer, I better know."

Prospects for all four House GOP leaders have been buoyed by the battle with Otter. Republican primaries favor conservatives, and the fuel tax fight has made heroes out of Denney, Moyle, Bedke and Roberts.

Roberts said he's focusing on bringing the session to a close without a tax increase. But he welcomes talk of him running for Congress. "I'm leaving that door definitely open," he said. "There's a lot of political maneuvering going on."

Bedke said the House's differences with Otter are unconnected to his ambitions, or those of his three colleagues. "You're on a cold trail if you think all this intrigue around the session has to do with a speaker's race, because it doesn't."

Every signal suggests the House GOP has its leadership's back, allowing the four leaders to resist Otter and the Senate. Yes, as Moyle says, they like the governor, but they think he's simply lost his bearings.

A significant blow for Otter came Monday, when Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, told the Times-News in Twin Falls that his constituents were overwhelmingly against a tax increase. Smith had been among a handful of Otter's most reliable allies, having supported all six fuel-tax bills killed by the House.

"I'm tired of this game," Smith said Tuesday before clearing off his desk and leaving the House floor. Smith said he told an Otter aide who called him Sunday night that he could no longer back the governor. Smith took the call in his hot tub at home. "I wanted to stay there, but somebody said I had to come back."

Dan Popkey: 377-6438