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SALT LAKE CITY -- Utahns have contributed nearly half of the funds being raised by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as he prepares for a possible bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, the Deseret Morning News reported Sunday.
Records from political action committees in four states and federal campaign disclosures show Utah donations account for 45 percent of more than $1.6 million in contributions, the newspaper said in a copyright story.
Most of the $732,500 -- all of it from 50 Uthans -- is being spent to support Republican campaigns and causes outside of Utah.
Only Utah consultants Kirk Jowers and Max Farbman are seeing any Romney funds.
Jowers heads the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics and is general counsel for the Romney PACs, called Commonwealth. Farbman, formerly raised money for Gov. Jon Huntsman's PACs.
It should be no surprise that Romney would return to Utah to raise money in Utah, Jowers said.
"The people he knew from the Olympics are kind of obvious to initially help him with his causes," he said.
The bulk of the Utah money raised came from a single Salt Lake City fundraiser in March. Another event was held in Orem last week and a fundraiser is slated for Logan on Monday.
Tickets for the events can run as high as $1,000 per couple for dinner, $2,000 per couple for a "VIP briefing reception," and $3,500 per couple for a "private photo reception" with Romney, according to information from an invitation for a canceled Ogden fundraiser which had been planned for Monday.
On the list of contributors giving at least $3,000 are former Jazz star Karl Malone, Deseret Book CEO Sheri Dew, former ambassador and developer John Price, billionaire businessman James Sorenson and Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb.
Utah billionaire philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr., father of Utah's governor, is the largest single contributor. He's given $128,500, the most recent disclosure records show.
Other large Utah donors include Blake Roney, the head of NuSkin, and Kem Gardner, a developer formerly with Boyer Co. and a longtime Romney friend. Family members of Huntsman, Gardner and others also donated, but not Utah's governor.
Romney's term as Massachusetts governor ends in January. He has not declared his political intentions, but has been raising money through PACs in key presidential primary states since 2004.
Credited with rescuing the scandal-scarred Salt Lake Olympics, Romney, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is very popular in Mormon-dominated Utah.
Political experts say Romney's campaign efforts here don't appear to be affecting contributions to local GOP races. In fact, Romney may be adding to the party's contributor lists, said Jeff Hartley, executive director of the Utah Republican Party.
"He's in such a different class as a candidate than anybody else. Mitt Romney is a rock star when it comes to Utah politics. He really is," Hartley said. "He's pulling money from people who are not political donors."
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On the Net: www.deseretnews.com www.commonwealthpac.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
