Brownback's campaign reprimanded a staffer for sending an e-mail suggesting "the LDS Jesus is not the same Jesus of the Christian faith," according to ABC News. And Giuliani's campaign said an e-mail from a staffer forwarding a story about Romney possibly fulfilling a Mormon legend was "a regrettable mistake."

Both Brownback and Giuliani promised "that's never going to happen again," Romney said. "They've each spoken to me personally, and I don't have any issue with that at all. I've told them that that's going to happen from time to time and you expect that in a campaign."

Romney also denounced filmmaker Michael Moore, whose latest movie, "Sicko," is about the nation's troubled health-care system, for criticizing Massachusetts' effort to mandate health insurance.

"He doesn't like it. That's one of the best forms of flattery I can imagine," Romney said.

The purpose of Romney's trip to Utah was, of course, to raise money. The state was behind only California in providing financial support to Romney's campaign in first-quarter fund-raising reports and is expected to be a big backer when the second quarter ends June 30.

"I've got a lot of friends here in Utah, and it will be one of the leading states" again, Romney said. During the first three months of 2007, his campaign reported raising some $23 million, including nearly $2.8 million from Utahns.

The three events in Utah on Saturday could bring in well over $500,000. Some 250 supporters were to have paid $500 each to attend a morning reception at EnergySolutions Arena.

Another 150 were anticipated at a fund-raiser in Logan at the home of Cache Valley Electric CEO Jim Laub, paying up to the federal contribution limit of $2,300 each. And 100 or so of his biggest Utah backers were invited to Romney's vacation home in Deer Valley on Saturday night.

Romney said candidates have to spend too much time raising money.

"It's really too bad that the fund-raising process in this country has taken up such a huge portion of the political agenda," he said.

Campaign finance reform co-sponsored by McCain, Romney said, has made the process worse. Instead of limiting the size of campaign contributions, Romney said supporters should be able to give whatever amount they wish and have it immediately reported on the Web.

Utah was just one of more than a half-dozen Western states that Romney swept through this past week. His traveling press secretary, Eric Fehrnstrom, said there have been 40 fund-raising events for Romney this month alone.

On Monday, Romney will be back in Boston for a major fund-raiser involving hundreds of well-connected supporters calling their contacts for contributions. As many as 75 Utahns will participate, said Spencer Zwick, Romney's national finance director.

Zwick, though, said Romney does not expect to match his first-quarter contributions, which set a new record for GOP candidates. The $23 million reported to the Federal Elections Commission in April included a $2.35 million loan from Romney.

But Zwick said there will be a larger number of contributors on the latest filing, set to be released by the government July 15. Utahns participated in a drive by the Romney campaign last month to sign up 24,000 new supporters — including donors — in 24 hours.

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