This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Bring on Hillary Clinton, John McCain and every other presidential hopeful.
Despite the hefty price tag, Utah will help select the nominees in what could be one of the most wide-open presidential contests ever.
Republican leaders in the House and Senate agreed with Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. on Monday to spend $3.5 million on a primary, which would allow Utahns to vote for the Republican and Democratic nominees using the latest touch-screen voting equipment.
Last year, lawmakers set aside $850,000 for the statewide primary to be held on Feb. 5, 2008. But the new equipment costs much more than first anticipated. Still, state leaders thought the cost was worth it for economic, political and individual reasons.
"That date is shaping up to be a national primary and Utahns will finally be able to participate," said Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower.
Utah will join other states, including California and Arizona, which are hosting a primary on Feb. 5 and could be the date that the nominees are selected.
The main objective for Utah's political leaders is to get major candidates invested in regional issues important to the state, such as open land and water rights.
But Utah may also experience an economic spike when major candidates and their large entourages stop by.
Mower would welcome such visits, though he said a more fundamental reason to host a primary is to allow residents to "participate in the national debate."
The additional funding negates the need for a bill that is still making its way through the legislative process. As a backup plan, Huntsman asked Kaysville GOP Rep. Doug Aagard to sponsor a bill to allow the political parties to hold an unofficial preference poll.
While Republican and Democratic leaders agreed to jointly host that poll, they all support the primary.