Hansen noted that many of the companies "are very diversified" and offer products besides alcohol, tobacco and gambling. For example, Altria is the parent company not only of Philip Morris tobacco but also of Kraft foods. Anheuser-Busch is not only a beer company but operates amusement parks.

Meanwhile, Tony Musci, chairman of Common Cause of Utah, an advocacy group concerned about special-interest money in politics, said, "Special interests tend to give money for a reason, not just to be good Americans. It buys them access. It gives them a leg up on whatever they are up against in the legislative process. What are they getting from Sen. Hatch? I mean, Utah doesn't exactly have a big wine or tobacco industry."

Hansen said, "The senator has never made a promise for any contribution and never would do that."

The grand total accepted by Hatch this year from alcohol, tobacco and gambling interests is $44,000.

That means Hatch received more from just these donors than the combined total raised by his opponents so far for next year's election. Democrat Pete Ashdown, who plans to challenge Hatch in the senatorial election, said he has only raised about $8,000, all from individuals. Republican Steve Urquhart, a state legislator from St. George, said he will begin fund-raising soon.

Urquhart accepted $1,000 in his previous legislative races from tobacco interests and did not criticize Hatch for taking similar donations. "He can run his campaign as he sees fit, and I'll run mine as I see fit, and we'll let voters decide."

Ashdown, meanwhile, criticized the two Republicans for taking such money. "I think the marriage of money and politics is what is killing the people's power in the United States. I'm trying to run a campaign that is open and collaborative with the people rather than the special interests."

Ashdown and Urquhart said they expect to raise only a few hundred thousand dollars each to challenge Hatch, and will depend heavily on efforts by volunteers. Hatch, meanwhile, already had $1.7 million in the bank as of June, but he is continuing to build on that with what his campaign calls "aggressive fund-raising."

Hansen said Hatch always "runs an aggressive campaign. That's the way he operates in the Senate. He's never parked or in first gear; he is always going full out." He said Hatch feels aggressive fund-raising helps the party both through contributions his campaign can make to others, and by running a solid campaign at the top of the ticket.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com