Paul draws cheers in Utah, says he won't leave the GOP

Ron Paul says he is no Ross Perot.

The Republican presidential candidate, who is trailing in the polls but has a loyal following, told the Salt Lake County GOP Central Committee Saturday that if he does not get the Republican nod, he will not jump to a third party.

"I have no intention of doing that," Paul said. He did, however, run for president as a Libertarian in 1998.

That assurance came after one man asked Paul to step aside and instead focus on building the constitutional wing of the Republican Party. Perot was the spoiler of the 1992 presidential election, drawing votes away from then-President George Bush, thus clearing the way for Bill Clinton to win several states with less than a majority of votes.

"I have a great concern that a repeat of a Ross Perot would elect another Clinton," one man said during a question and answer session with the veteran Texas congressman. "I would like to ask you if things don't work out, and you're not a nominee that you would have no desire to lead a third-party movement and instead you would lead a movement within the Republican Party to revitalize it and bring back the principles which we really stand for."

Paul was the latest presidential hopeful to stop in Utah. Republicans Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney have all made personal visits, as have Democrats Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is scheduled to visit in October.

While here, Paul addressed the Salt Lake County Republicans, attended a rally and raised money at two fund-raisers.

A brunch at The Gateway Saturday morning required a minimum $1,000 contribution, and attendance at a Saturday evening reception in Provo came at a minimum $2,000 donation.

Paul said the Republican Party is not the same as it once was.

"We have now become the party of big government," Paul said. "We have lost a lot politically for this."

He also said Americans are "too careless" with the Constitution, "and I believe that's why we are having a lot of problems today."

Polls show most Utahns back another GOP candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Romney, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like the majority of Utahns, was the leader of the successful 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Romney has collected more money from Utahns by far than any other presidential contender, nearly $4 million as of midyear. He is scheduled to return to the state on Sept. 28 to participate in a fund-raiser aimed at donors who can't afford to write big checks.

While Paul trails the Republican front-runners vying for the White House, he has a loyal following. Spencer Morgan, a grass-roots organizer for the candidate, said support is building for Paul in Utah.

"The message sells itself. It's a limited-government message," Morgan said, "that appeals to Utahns once they hear it. "

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com