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SALT LAKE CITY — Mitt Romney began his campaign detour through Utah on Friday, beginning his Olympic anniversary weekend at a $1,000-per-plate fundraising dinner at the Little America hotel.
Hundreds of people filed into the hotel's main salon to hear Romney, who also took photographs and mingled with a few lucky folks who were willing to dish out an extra $1,500 for that privilege.
The event was the culmination of a full day of appearances for Romney, who flew in from Idaho on his campaign for the Republican nomination for president.
While in Utah, he is also scheduled to participate in some Olympic anniversary events on Saturday before returning to the campaign trail.
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The world according to Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney: Europeans are socialists. The Chinese are currency manipulators. Russia can't be trusted to abide by nuclear agreements. The Palestinians are out to destroy Israel. And the U.S. is too generous with humanitarian aid.As for those Utahns who heard Romney's remarks at the closed-door fundraiser, they were not disappointed.
"It's an honor for our state and a great honor for the people of Utah," said Stansbury Park resident Toni Broadhead. "I think he represents Utah well."
Romney supporter Michael O'Connor was in Utah for business from California. He said Romney is the candidate who best represents his values and who he believes would help move the country forward economically as President.
"He brings a disciplined approach to our financial mess that we've gotten into," O'Connor said. "We need to make sure that we don't spend more money than we make and have a balanced budget and reduce our debt."
On Saturday, Romney will have breakfast at a private home with some of his top Utah contributors as well as some from neighboring states, a source said, before turning his attention to the state's Olympic anniversary.
He is expected to attend a private reunion of Salt Lake Organizing Committee employees on Saturday afternoon before delivering a speech at a special "Stars on Ice" show at EnergySolutions Arena.
Romney reportedly had planned on staying in Utah through Sunday to attend LDS Church services and spend time with family, but those plans could change with critical Republican presidential primaries approaching that could prompt Romney to return to the campaign trail sooner than previously scheduled.
