Such independent political organizations are not affiliated with candidates. Davis said his only contact with Romney's political advisers was discussions on doing a documentary about the difficulties faced by an LDS presidential candidate.

Spencer Zwick, manager of Romney's private office, said he wasn't aware of the new organization. "What people decide to do on their own because they support a given candidate is totally up to them," Zwick said. "You can never control people."

Davis' documentary, like the rest of his film career, may be on hold as he focuses on the advertising campaign. He came to Salt Lake City to announce the new political organization, but said he doesn't intend that his effort be supported only by LDS Church members.

"The last thing in the world Mitt Romney needs to be is identified — because of where the money comes from or by the advertising — as the Mormon candidate," Davis said.

Romney himself, though, has leaned heavily on Utahns to fund his political-action committees.

Romney spent several years in the state as head of the organizing committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics before returning to Massachusetts. He raised nearly half of the money in Utah for his Commonwealth PACs used to court GOP support.

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