"These campaigns are expensive," Patterson, a political science professor, said of presidential bids. "You need that base of support to raise money. You need to go where that money is."

Of course, those affiliated with Romney's leadership PAC carefully avoid making any connection to a potential presidential campaign. The Massachusetts governor is not expected to announce his candidacy until after leaving office.

"The Commonwealth PAC is an organization set up by the friends and supporters of Gov. Romney to support Republican candidates and party organizations around the country," said Spencer Zwick, manager of Romney's private office and a senior consultant to the PAC.

Zwick, whose duties focus on Romney's political activities, said money is coming in from around the country, not just Utah. Romney's former business associates in Boston are significant contributors, for example.

What the PACs do, Zwick said, is consult "with national, state and local Republican leaders to identify important U.S. Senate, congressional, gubernatorial and state legislative races where a contribution can help make a difference."

GOP Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, who is facing a tough battle for re-election in Pennsylvania, received $2,000 last year from the federal Commonwealth PAC. Another Republican senator, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, also was given $2,000 in 2005.

Most of candidates getting money, however, are in much lower-profile races that Utahns likely will never hear about. According to www.commonwealthpac.com, they're "reform-minded Republicans" who believe "government should be limited, responsive and affordable."

Patterson said it's not clear whether the PAC is diverting contributions that might have otherwise been made to Utah candidates. "Because of the political culture here, there may be untapped sums of money," the BYU professor said.

"There aren't a lot of competitive Utah races," Patterson said, given the domination of the Republican Party throughout the state. "It's still, for the most part, not an expensive place to run a campaign."

Jeff Hartley, executive director of the Utah Republican Party, said Romney's fund-raising activities in Utah aren't taking money away from GOP candidates. In fact, Hartley, said, Romney may actually be adding to the party's contributor lists.

"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."