Republicans have had a hard time finding a candidate to run against Democratic District Attorney Craig Watkins.

Three contenders – Phillip Linder, Toby Shook and David Finn – all considered carrying the party standard before bowing out.

Now, it seems, the local GOP has settled on veteran attorney Danny Clancy as its great champion.

Unless someone else emerges, Clancy will be charged with leading Republicans to reclaim the seat they so covet.

But is it smart politics for Republicans to make a run at Watkins, perhaps the most popular politician in North Texas?

As it stands, the Democratic ballot in Dallas County doesn't have many Pied Pipers to lure sometimes apathetic voters to the polls.

The meat of the Democratic vote is in the southern portion of the county, where Watkins grew up and is most highly regarded.

If he has a tough re-election campaign, Watkins will lean heavily on that area, which is still a rich resource filled with untapped voters.

In challenging Watkins, Republicans risk awakening a slumbering giant, much like Laura Miller did in 2005 when she got behind a proposal that would have given her broader powers.

Sure, Watkins is on the ballot whether he has an opponent or not. But do Republicans really want him working hard on a grass-roots campaign?

You can almost hear what his message would be: "They want to take us back to the Bill Hill, Henry Wade era," or, "Don't let them take this from us."

Indeed, the only people more happy than Clancy about the race are Democrats.

The party's judicial candidates celebrated when they heard Watkins was getting an opponent.

His fundraiser last week was so packed that the valet parking stand at Sambuca nightclub was swamped.

Voters showing up for Watkins could also give a boost to legislative candidates just as Democrats are trying to retake the Texas House.

Jonathan Neerman, chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party, says he considered the risks involved in going after Watkins.

Heck, it was Neerman who earlier questioned whether his party should run a candidate against Watkins at all, arguing that it didn't make sense to spend resources on a race that couldn't be won. Since then, Republicans have sensed vulnerability in Watkins.

He says Clancy can win and, just as important, that a race against Watkins will energize the local GOP.

"We recognize the political dynamic of running against Watkins," Neerman said. "But excited as Democrats may or may not be about Watkins, Republicans are excited about defeating Watkins. We want a district attorney that's going to look out for the best interest of Dallas."

gjeffers@dallasnews.com