"And we are loyal here — we like our incumbents, even (Democratic U.S. Rep.) Jim Matheson," Cannon said.

But Utah is also the most LDS state in the nation. And members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no matter where they live, are viewed as a "subgroup some of the most Republican voters in the nation," Cannon said.

"Something like 90 percent of Mormons vote Republican in presidential races. That is one reason the president is so popular here," Cannon said.

In fact, Cannon said numbers he's seen show that LDS Church members are more loyal to Republicans in presidential voting than any other identifiable groups. "Mormons are the African-Americans of the Republican Party — something like 90 percent of black Americans vote Democratic.

"Utahns are a little different than Idaho, Wyoming or even Texas (where Bush was governor) because of the large percent of LDS voters" here, Cannon said.

Does a Bush visit or two before Election Day harm Democratic candidates' chances here?

Taylor doesn't believe so — even if Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson, a Democrat, organizes anti-Bush-policy demonstrations in Salt Lake City when the president visits.

"You don't campaign against Bush," Taylor said. "But you do point out his policies that hurt Utahns — like (the GOP Legislature) picking a parking garage over funding for disabled people's dental care" — a program whose funding has been cut in part because of federal reductions in Medicaid payments.

"You point out that he tried to privatize Social Security. His tax policies hurt most Utahns. And that many Utahns will pay $1,600 more this year in gasoline prices than they did in 2004 when he was re-elected," Taylor said.

But, Cannon said, in the end, such arguments don't — and won't — dent Utahns' approval of the president.

"The president takes on the tough issues that resonate with Utahns," Cannon said. "We are where he is on social issues like abortion and gay marriage. In Utah, Bush will benefit our candidates. It is a big plus just to have him here for a day."

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com