Romney Patronizing Mormon Businesses

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Mitt Romney has

benefited from the financial support of his fellow Mormons as he runs for

president, and he hasn't shied from returning the favor as he conducts the

business of his campaign.

When it comes to hotels, the Republican presidential

contender has shown a preference for Marriotts. The chain's founder was J.

Willard Marriott, a fellow member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints. He also was the namesake for Romney, whose given first name is Willard.

The Marriott in downtown Des

Moines was his headquarters for the Iowa caucuses, and his staff and traveling

press corps stayed in other Marriott properties around the city.

When it came time for Romney to fly to New Hampshire from Iowa

following the caucuses, his staff decided to charter a JetBlue aircraft. The

airline was founded in 1999 by David Neeleman, another LDS member who now

serves as the company's chairman.

Utah, where the church is seated and the majority of

residents are Mormons, has been the state whose residents have been Romney's

second-largest financial supporters, after California.

As of Sept. 30, the date of the most recently

available campaign finance reports, Utahans donated $4.6 million to Romney's

campaign. Some $6.65 million was given by Californians, a large share of the

money coming from heavily Mormon

Orange County.

Members of the Marriott family in Utah

and the Washington

suburbs contributed $22,800, while donors identified as Marriott employees

contributed $88,000.

Members

of the Neeleman family donated $14,700, including $4,200 from David Neeleman

and his wife, Vickey. JetBlue employees contributed $6,300.