Utahns contributed some $400,000 to John McCain today at a Salt Lake City fund-raiser for the Republican pick for president — thanks, at least in part, to an appearance by the state's "favorite son" candidate, Mitt Romney.

Although Romney dropped out of the race for the White House last month after a poor Super Tuesday showing, he still has plenty of support among Utahns who clapped and cheered when he was introduced at the private event at the Grand America Hotel downtown.

"Obviously, I'm proud to have Gov. Romney with me," McCain told reporters at an airport press conference. Romney, who stood alongside the Arizona senator, served as governor of Massachusetts after running the successful 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Romney left with McCain for his next fund-raiser, held in Denver later today. The luncheon event in Salt Lake City, which cost a minimum of $1,000 to attend, marked the first time Romney and McCain have appeared together since Romney endorsed his former rival on Feb. 14.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who served as a host of the fund-raiser, also stood with McCain at the airport and was hailed as an expert in Asian affairs. Both Huntsman and Romney have been mentioned as potential vice-presidential candidates for McCain.

But the senator, who is not expected to announce his choice for the No. 2 spot on the ticket until late summer, had little comment about their chances. "I can't say," McCain said when asked if he was standing with his vice-presidential pick.

The fact that both Huntsman and Romney are being considered — along with a long list of other potential candidates, including Florida Gov. Charlie Crist — didn't cause any tension at today's event, McCain said.

Huntsman has been a longtime supporter of McCain, even though Utahns overwhelmingly favored Romney, who pulled in more than $6 million in contributions from the state's residents and won an unheard of 90 percent of the vote in Utah's Feb. 5 GOP presidential primary.

Outside of the hotel this morning, nearly 15 people stood in the cold to protest McCain's support of the war in Iraq. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. George Muller organized the protest and carried a sign that said, "4,000+. Not one more death. Not one more dollar."

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Contributing: Leigh Dethman

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E-mail: lisa@desnews.com