Asked where they got them, one man said he drove to the convention and stopped at a bookstore in Murray, where the buttons were for sale. He bought one. Those free buttons apparently have resale value.

No heels

There will be no heels, at least no big ones, on hand when Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination Thursday before an expected 75,000 people at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

Security won't allow them. To explain, Utah delegates were warned that security won't allow people to pass wearing high heels — defined as anything more than an inch and a half in height. Apparently, those are viewed as potential weapons.

"And the measuring tape police will be out," joked delegation chairman Wayne Holland.

Security also won't allow umbrellas, or filled bottles of water (more potential weapons or explosives). Empty bottles are fine, and can be filled inside the arena, Holland said.

Other convention work

While conventions are, of course, to nominate a presidential candidate and tell the world about a party's message, Utah Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bob Springmeyer has been about another type of business here. That business is seeking party and financial support for his campaign.

He has met with some political action committees, for example, of mining groups, explaining his stand and hoping it may attract some financial support for them.

"I've also been going to a lot of events put on by the Democratic Governors Association," he said, adding it has helped with support and connections for his campaign.

No GOP pizza, thank you

Utah delegate Kurt Bestor, a composer and singer, says he is "friends" with a lot of people, but he has to draw the line somewhere.

Thursday, Bestor got a text message while in Denver at the National Democratic Convention where he is a delegate from Jason Chaffetz, who is the GOP nominee this year in the 3rd Congressional District. The message came through Facebook, where Bestor is a "friend" of Chaffetz.

Chaffetz was inviting Bestor to a Friday night Pizza and Politics gathering, hosted by state Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan.

"I found that fairly odd," said Bestor. "Needless to say, I won't be attending."

Buttars is a controversial figure roundly criticized for his statements about homosexuals. During the last Legislature he referred to a school bill as a black, ugly thing, which in turned led to calls for his resignation by the Salt Lake chapter of the NAACP and various other individuals.

Buttars apologized, ran for re-election this year and despite being challenged by several Republicans, won his party's primary at the Salt Lake County GOP convention this spring.

"I wonder if Buttars will be paying for the pizza with a check," joked Bestor, referring to an embarrassing incident by fellow GOP Sen. Curt Bramble, who demanded from a pizza delivery girl that she accept his personal check despite the company policy of not taking personal checks.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com; bbjr@desnews.com