Presidential candidates reach out to Utah voters on 'Super Tuesday'

Team Coverage It's Super Tuesday. Today is the day when the largest conglomeration of states simultaneously votes in a presidential primary or caucus. The candidates are campaigning until the last minute. The outcome of the multistate primaries and caucuses could very well decide the nominee for both parties.

Super Tuesday means delegates, and delegates equal support. Both the Republican and Democratic candidates know every bit of support is important. That's why, even today, they were reaching out to Utah voters.

The campaigning, public appearances, hand shaking and baby kissing all come down to today. Super Tuesday has the candidates on overdrive. In the states they can't physically be in, they're reaching in satellite interviews.

It started early today when Republican John McCain took swipes at opponent Mitt Romney on Eyewitness News this morning. "I am superstitious, but I like the way the momentum is, it's obvious that Governor Romney is engaging in the negative campaigning he did against Governor Huckabee and against me, and I just don't think that works." McCain said.

Sen. McCain has been endorsed by Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. He calls McCain a "great, great man."

Mitt Romney didn't come to Utah today either, but when he was in town for President Gordon B. Hinckley's funeral last weekend he told us he's counting on Utah voters today. "I want to win Utah. There are a lot of Republicans in Utah, that's why we have so many delegates out of Utah. I want to have the support of this state for personal and political reasons," Romney said.

Romney's Utah supporters, like Senate President John Valentine, are keeping a close eye on John McCain. "McCain is a very credible candidate. Everybody wrote him off about six months ago," Valentine said.

But even McCain supporters say he's not a contender in Utah. "Romney will win Utah today, overwhelmingly," Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said.

After huge turnout at a rally in Boise, Barack Obama said he feels momentum is on his side here. "I would say that Senator Clinton is still the favorite, but in a place like Utah, I think that we've got a lot of very fired up supporters, and I think we'll do a lot better than people would have thought a month ago," Obama said.

He also said, "I think every state is important and Utah, like other western states, is looking for a new direction. I think they are tired of partisan bickering in Washington, they're tired of special interests setting the agenda on issues like health care and energy, and one of the things I bring to this race is the ability to bring people together to get things done."

Sen. Hillary Clinton is in her home state of New York today, awaiting results from the Super Tuesday votes. In her final campaign appearances leading up to the vote Clinton promised to be candidate for all Americans. "There is a lot of reasons for people to worry that the president just doesn't pay attention, and I want them to know that I get it, and I'll be there for them," Clinton said.

Her campaign has been working hard in this state. "I really want to give Democrats in Utah their voices because, clearly, it's absolutely your turn to help pick a president. I hope you get out and vote today, and obviously I hope you vote for me," Clinton said.

Both Obama and Clinton have made a big push for votes in Utah, sending family members to campaign and running ads on television and radio.

Today, Obama campaign volunteers left no number undialed. State campaign director Anne Filipic says getting out the vote is huge in this tight race. "Senator Obama does value Utah and finds that this will be a very important primary," she said.

Clinton's Utah state field director, Caroline Cole, says supporters are knocking doors and passing out leaflets today. "We are canvasing neighborhoods and we're reminding people that, indeed, today is voting day," she said.

Both Clinton and Obama have vowed to continue their campaigns despite the outcome of today's primaries.

The most recent Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV survey found Obama leading Clinton among likely voters 53 to 29 percent.

Today's contests offer up an enormous chunk of the delegates needed to win each party's nomination at political conventions this summer.

Delegates

At Stake
Democrats 1,681
Republicans 1,023

Needed
Democrats 2,025
Republicans 1,191

For Democrats, there are 1,681 delegates up for grabs. Candidates need 2,025 for the nomination. Republicans have 1,023 delegates at stake out of 1,191 needed.

Hillary Clinton currently has the most Democratic delegates. John McCain leads among Republicans.

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