A spokesman for the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mark Bennett, said the protest call could actually help the city's image — at least with those people who believe the state is politically like-minded.

"If you're supportive of the president, you might be annoyed that this mayor is taking a stand," Bennett said. "But if you're not, it probably increases awareness that in Utah, known as the reddest of the red states, there actually is a healthy political debate led by Salt Lake's mayor."

Besides, Bennett said, the mayor is asking for protesters to challenge the president and his policies, not the convention itself. "Rocky certainly understands the importance of the convention business, but then the distinction is, he is not afraid of being political."

State GOP Chairman Joe Cannon said "it is a little embarrassing" for Salt Lakers, for the VFW and for the president himself to have the mayor of the convention's host city call for a protest against the president, even if some may have differences with Bush.

On the political front, Cannon said Anderson's comments "are wonderful news for the Utah Republican Party." And "it's a great way for the Democrats to begin rebuilding themselves in Utah," added Cannon, a bit sarcastically.

Anderson's comments "just remind the overwhelming number of voters here why they vote Republican, not Democratic, in this state," said Cannon.

Utah's lone Democratic congressman, Rep. Jim Matheson, will not protest in front of the Salt Palace. He'll ride in Bush's motorcade after meeting him at the airport, Matheson spokeswoman Alyson Heyrend said.

While declining to criticize Anderson's remarks, Heyrend said the VFW convention "is about supporting our current men and women in uniform and those who have served. Congressman Matheson has always done that, he continues to do that, he fights for veteran benefits and is in tune with their needs." As of Friday night, various protests were planned, including an anti-war protest at noon Monday in Pioneer Park. Another group is meeting at the Gallivan TRAX station at 9 a.m. and riding over to the Salt Palace to protest.

Some of those contacted also criticized Anderson for using city e-mail to send the protest call. State law states "a municipal officer or employee may not use municipal equipment while engaged in political activity."

Last year Anderson asked County Attorney David Yocom to investigate him after it was revealed that the mayor had used his city e-mail to work on his 2003 re-election campaign. Yocom declined to press charges after his office determined the state law contained no criminal penalty.

Anderson's Friday e-mail was also sent to several city employees, including chief of staff Sam Guevara; senior adviser D.J. Baxter and Youth Programs director Janet Wolf.

For Anderson, who has crossed swords with legislative Republicans and GOP officials at regular intervals, this is not the first time that he's spoken out in ways that GOP leaders believe harm Utah.

During last summer's National Conference of State Legislatures convention, held in the Salt Palace when then-Utah House Speaker Marty Stephens was the president of NCSL, Anderson publicly criticized the GOP-controlled Legislature, which hosted of the convention.

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