Guymon, who heads up Grass Roots, a conservative watchdog group, responded to Lockhart's e-mail by writing that nowhere in party rules is it allowed to "unbound" national delegates, who are supposed to represent the will of the GOP presidential primary voters. "Party leadership is trying to change the rules of the game after the game has been completed ... like referees trying to change the results of the game."

And, said Guymon, the same delegate release attempt was made in the May state GOP convention, and the matter was not decided by a state delegate vote. So now Lockhart is trying to change the decision of Utah Republicans who voted for Romney, after state delegates refused to act, charges Guymon.

Guymon also doesn't like Lockhart using e-mail to poll central committee members, because there is no way to debate among committee members using that technology.

"Only one side is being presented" through Lockhart's e-mail arguments in favor of releasing the Romney delegates, charges Guymon.

"Some (central committee members) want a debate, so we will have a (central committee) meeting" on the matter, said DuBois.

In his e-mail, Lockhart said Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, in a written request recently received, asked that Utah GOP national delegates be released to vote for McCain. With that new request in hand, Lockhart decided to review whether he had the authority to release delegates as Romney asks.

"I have had many discussions with the Romney campaign on this issue," Lockhart wrote. "They are firm in their desire for their delegates to be released."

After reviewing all party "governing documents," Lockhart then writes, "I have concluded that our national delegates can be released. ... I am asking for your support of my finding to allow Utah's national delegates to be released from voting for Mitt Romney."

Counters Guymon: "We can spend all of the money we want on ad campaigns (the state GOP "I Can" campaign on how good Republican management of government has been for Utah), but if we are not viewed as a party that can be trusted, we will eventually lose political power in the state."

---

E-MAIL: bbjr@desnews.com