That's virtually an impossible feat in a state that's dominated by Democrats the way Utah is by Republicans.

"There's no question I can't do much for him in Massachusetts," Romney said. "If I were President Bush or (running) his campaign, I would not spend any money or time in Massachusetts — or Utah. . . . Utah and Massachusetts are parallel universes."

Being from Massachusetts would also hurt Romney's chances of winning his party's nomination, Bartlett said. "Massachusetts is about as far off the radar screen from the point of view of Republicans as you could possibly be," Bartlett said. "He's a foreigner."

Romney has tried to establish his conservative credentials through taking a strong stand against gay marriage, which was legalized in Massachusetts in a recent court ruling. Joe Cannon, the head of Utah's Republican Party, said the issue is a gift for Romney.

"He gets to act like a total right-winger on the gay rights thing. History has thrust greatness upon him as far as right-wingers are concerned," Cannon said. Even so, Utah's GOP leader said, Romney will have a hard time getting the Republican nomination from a liberal state.

Bartlett suggested Romney might set his sites lower. "He's probably more viable as a vice president than as a presidential nominee," Bartlett said. "The idea that someone from the Northeast could get the nomination strikes me as unlikely."

Romney laughs at the suggestion he might seek the second spot on the GOP ticket. "That'd be something you'd want to stay governor for," he said.

So far, no candidate has emerged as the likely GOP choice for 2008. Whether or not Bush wins in November, Bartlett and others have said the race is wide open at this point since Cheney, Bush's vice president, is not expected to run because of health issues.

Other candidates who've been mentioned include two New Yorkers, Gov. George Pataki and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, as well as Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel and even the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Utah Sen. Bob Bennett favors another GOP governor — Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, but he's prohibited from running for president because he was not born in the United States.

"If Schwarzenegger had not been born in Austria, he'd be the obvious choice. He's the governor of the nation's largest state. A Republican with a 65 percent approval rating in a heavily Democratic state," Bennett said. "This guy's got serious political credentials."