Romney returning to Utah to raise money for his PAC

SALT LAKE CITY — Mitt Romney will be in Utah Tuesday to raise money for his political action committee at a private event whose hosts include Gov. Gary Herbert.

Although Romney already endorsed Herbert earlier this year, the governor's campaign announced Monday evening Romney ""will make a statement offering his full support" for Herbert in this year's special gubernatorial election.

Herbert, however, won't see any of the cash collected at the up to $2,500 a person evening reception being held at the Grand America Hotel for Romney's Free and Strong America PAC, which helps elect GOP candidates nationwide.

The former GOP presidential candidate is not expected to participate in taping television ads or preparing other campaign materials for Herbert during his brief stop in Utah.

Herbert's campaign manager, Joseph Demma, said the governor wasn't counting on either type of help from Romney, the popular former leader of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

"Romney's only in town for a very short time," Demma said. "He's endorsed us. We appreciate everything he's done for us."

Besides, Demma said, should Herbert decide to feature his relationship with Romney in campaign advertising, there's plenty of material already available.

"We don't have any shortage of footage of those two. Every time Romney comes to town, Herbert is right there with him," Demma said.

Whether or not Romney's image appears in Herbert's campaign advertising remains to be seen, however.

"The governor is running his campaign based on his vision for the state of Utah," Demma said. "Whether Gov. Romney gets involved hasn't been a real cornerstone of the strategy."

Even though Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, won an overwhelming 90 percent of the vote in Utah's 2008 GOP presidential primary, his support for candidates here doesn't always translate into victory.

Romney appeared in a TV ad for Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, after raising some $225,000 for him. Still, Bennett was defeated in his bid for reelection earlier this year at the GOP state convention.

Demma, though, said he expects the Romney visit to help Herbert. The governor has had a tough couple of weeks defending himself against questions raised about the influence of contributions to his campaign on the award of state contracts.