The key, the governor said, is holding simultaneous primaries in multiple states early enough in the process to attract the presidential candidates to the West, and to focus on Western issues — including immigration.

Huntsman said he's committed to the idea even if Utah and New Mexico are the only states that participate. "It's better if we have four or five, but if the time was right . . . Utah and New Mexico together could play certainly an enhanced role in presidential politics."

That might mean, the governor said, that presidential candidates spend 80 percent of their time in Iowa and New Hampshire, where the first match-ups are traditionally held, and then 20 percent of their time out West.

Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt attempted to organize a Western states primary in 2000, but the election ended up being held after the so-called "Super Tuesday" had all but decided the major races.

Huntsman, who took office in January, also participated in discussions at the National Governors Association about cutting prescription costs and balancing the overseas deploy- ment of National Guard troops with state needs.

And the Utah governor said he was named vice chairman of the national association's agriculture and natural resources subcommittee, which deals with the transportation of nuclear waste.

Huntsman is attempting to derail a proposed high-level nuclear waste dump on the Goshute Indian reservation near Tooele by arguing that the material is too dangerous to transport and should be stored where it is produced.

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