Obama's visit may be limited to fund raising

Utahns who want to hear from Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama during his visit to the state Sunday should plan on writing out a check, since the Illinois senator may appear only at a fund-raiser.

No public event or press availability were scheduled as of Friday during Obama's brief swing through Utah for an afternoon fund-raiser at a Park City home where supporters will pay up to $2,300 to spend time with the candidate. But there were indications Friday night that could change and Obama could make a quick stop en route to speak with supporters who are planning to gather along state Route 224 with signs.

Organizer Nicole Norton said she'd like to see Obama stop and greet the rally participants.

"We want to show Obama there is support for a Democratic presidential candidate in Utah and give him a reason to come back," Norton said. "We're hoping he'll pull over. ... I think it would be really important for his campaign and for Utahns for this to happen."

More than 300 people are expected to attend the fund-raiser at the vacation home of one of Obama's top financiers, Mark Gilbert of Boca Raton, Fla., and, with a minimum donation of $500, as much as $250,000 could be collected.

The campaign has not commented on what appeared to be a decision to bypass contact with Utahns outside of those giving money. However, late Friday, members of the media were told to expect a call before the fund-raiser with

details of where Obama would deliver a pep talk to supporters. It was not immediately known if the senator planned to respond to media questions during that stop.

The initial plans for Utah drew some criticism.

"I think it's a shame when a candidate comes to Utah and doesn't make himself available in some way to the public," said Kirk Jowers, director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics and a Romney supporter.

Before Obama heads to Utah, he's to appear at a Southern Christian Leadership Conference awards dinner in Atlanta on Saturday night that's open to the press. And he's scheduled to leave Utah for a rural issues town meeting in Elko Sunday night.

"The fact that he is doing public events sandwiched around his Utah visit and won't make time even for a press event to address Utah voters is a little bit of a slap to Utah," Jowers said.