That does not include the political giving by out-of-state family members and employees. It also does not include the $287,800 that Jon Jr. spent on his 2004 race out of his own pocket.

Interestingly, Jon Sr. and his wife, Karen, gave no money directly to their son's race. But the Huntsman Corp. spent about $65,000 on it, and other members of the extended family spent at least $143,000 to help elect Jon Jr.

While Jon Sr. declined comment for this story, he has said in past years that he aims his money at any politician — Democrat or Republican — who is willing to help fund fights against cancer. About 60 percent of the money that he and his wife gave went to Republicans and 40 percent to Democrats.

"At this stage of my life, there is only one cause that I care about funding: finding a cure for cancer," Huntsman told the Deseret Morning News in 2002. His money helped create the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Hospital at the University of Utah.

An example of influence from his donations is helping to persuade Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to support embryonic stem-cell research, even though Hatch's conservative allies blasted him for it. Huntsman persuaded him to listen to experts from the Huntsman Institute, who swayed Hatch.

Huntsman's donations brought him amazing access to leaders of both parties. He calls leaders of both national parties friends and even has personal fishing trips with Vice President Dick Cheney.

His donations also did not hurt Jon Jr.'s two appointments as ambassador (once as ambassador to Singapore, once as a top official in the U.S. trade representative's office.) The appointments came despite his youth (the youngest ambassador in a century) and his initial lack of diplomatic experience.

Some have said, however, that Jon Sr.'s heavy donations to Democrats may actually have stalled the second appointment of Jon Jr. to ambassador rank, making the Bush administration wonder how loyal the family was to the party.

Arthur Lipson

Arthur Lipson, owner of Western Investments, is the state's No. 5 donor with contributions of at least $241,500. His wife, Rochelle Kaplan, did even more as the state's No. 4 donor with $245,650.

In an e-mail, Lipson said, "Like most people, we give to causes and candidates we wish to support." While he did not elaborate, their money went to Democratic candidates or liberal-leaning political action committees.

For example, they gave a combined $66,700 to arms of the Democratic Party that raise money for members of Congress. They also donated to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.; to Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign; and to Emily's List, a PAC that tends to support liberal-leaning women candidates.

Robert B. Lichfield