Delegates plied with freebies

Ask any of the 3,500 delegates to today's Republican state convention why they are delegates and chances are you will get platitudes such as "I believe it is important to participate in the process" or "I am a dyed-in-the-wool Republican" or maybe even "I feel strongly about the issues."

Chances are you won't hear "because of all the free stuff" foisted on delegates by the candidates, eight of whom are running for governor in the state's most hotly contested race.

And there are tons of free stuff: T-shirts, food, bags, buttons, a free concert and boatloads of information the candidates hope will somehow tug at the eyes and ears of delegates.

Much of it arrives in delegates' mailboxes day after day, so much that a lot of it remains unopened, unread and never viewed, some delegates say..

Some candidates are better than others at wooing the delegates.

Speaker of the House Marty Stephens, one of the would-be Republican nominees, sent out a videotape, "What every delegate should know about Marty Stephens," along with a bag of microwave popcorn.

Matt Throckmorton, a GOP candidate hoping to unseat Rep. Chris Cannon in the 3rd Congressional District, also sent out a video with the teaser "the video many of you have been waiting for is finally here" — and it's not "Lord of the Rings."

Gov. Olene Walker, hoping to keep her job as governor, hasn't been sending much to delegates through the mail. But at the convention, she is offering delegates a free copy of Richard Paul Evans' "The Five Lessons A Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Wealth." And Evans will be there signing the books.

Nolan Karras offered delegates tickets for two to the movie "Saints and Soldiers," which might not have been a good idea because if he tried to talk to the delegates during the film they would just tell him to be quiet. He also sent out tickets so delegates could listen to inspirational speaker Barry Asmus. But isn't Karras supposed to be inspiring them?

Gubernatorial candidate Fred Lampropoulos, a businessman millionaire, hosted two free concerts by 1964, a Beatles tribute band, at Thanksgiving Point. He has arranged for hotels close to the convention site to give delegates discounted rooms this weekend.

Some candidates just don't have the money to send out gadgets and gimmicks, or to ply delegates with entertainment.

Former Rep. Jim Hansen, another gubernatorial candidate, took a swipe at his more well-to-do competitors with a simple mailing: "Who would you rather have as Utah's governor, the one with the most money or the one with the most leadership and experience?"

Then he went out and paid for the delegates' dinner at the Little America Grand Ballroom.