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Guliuzza, who is a former vice chairman of the Utah Republican Party, said he did not know if there was much more to Bush's visit than "a very good audience in a good location."

He said if the president had come before the state's primary election, it would have been seen as more of a political trip. But now, after the election, it is a "nice coincidence" that Bush can address the veterans in a friendly state.

Bush spoke at the same convention in San Antonio in 2001; St. Louis in 2003; and Nashville, Tenn., in 2004. Each visit came around the same time in August, so the timing may be out of the White House's control. But the decision to accept the invitation is not.

Bush skipped this year's Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Reno, Nev., also taking place this week. Vice President Dick Cheney addressed that convention on Monday.

But Wolfson believes the political perks of the Utah visit are more substantial.

"It is not coincidental on the timing of this, with the fall election," Wolfson said. "The Republicans fear that the war is a card that is going to be played in election races."

Wolfson said the administration "is on the defense about the war," pointing to the president's press conference earlier this month and slipping poll numbers on his performance.

"People have a sense that we are losing control over there," Wolfson said. "We know public opinion in general has turned against the war."

When Bush hit Salt Lake City for the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention last year, he was also met with protests.

Guliuzza said protesters would likely be at any presidential appearance and that he would be "shocked" if even a graduation speech done by the president would not have policy language intertwined with it.

The protests provide local folks with an opportunity to show that they are there and vocal in their opposition to the president or the war in Iraq or both, he added.

"Utah is not the reddest of red states," Guliuzza said, "but it's pretty darn red."

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