It may take the help of the Republican National Committee to come up with language that would release the delegates from having to vote for Romney but keep them from straying to other candidates.

Romney expects the Utah delegates to vote for McCain at the national convention, his spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, said.

"He's already made his feelings known," Fehrnstrom said. "At the end of the day, we're confident the Utah delegation will join delegates around the country in enthusiastically supporting John McCain."

Fehrnstrom downplayed any reluctance among Romney's Utah backers.

"This appears to be a symbolic gesture towards Mitt Romney because of his ties to the state," he said. "It shouldn't be viewed as a reflection of Sen. McCain's candidacy. Sen. McCain has strong support in Utah."

McCain's Western states regional coordinator, Tim Bridgewater, was also optimistic.

"I think the delegates will support John McCain," Bridgewater said. "The makeup of the delegation is overwhelmingly supportive of McCain."

The list includes Bridgewater as well McCain's biggest backer in the state, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who endorsed McCain early in the campaign and is one of the candidate's national finance co-chairmen.

Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, is a Romney delegate who said he'll gladly vote for McCain. "Why cast a vote for a candidate who is out of the election," Valentine said. "I think it would be viewed as a little bit odd."

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Contributing: David Espo and Sara Kugler, Associated Press

E-mail: lisa@desnews.com