But possibly more exciting to Utah's Democratic minority will be an Aug. 5 Park City campaign stop by Sen. Barack Obama, a Democratic presidential frontrunner. Democratic state Chairman Wayne Holland said the candidate visits, including one last month by North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, is proof of Utah gaining stature on the national political stage.

Mark Gilbert, who splits his time between his home in Boca Raton, Fla., and Park City and is on Obama's national financial committee, is helping to organize the Illinois senator's brief visit.

Gilbert says that when he bought a home in Park City, he was surprised to find a large circle of loyal Democrats. "Yet you've never seen any of the prominent Democratic candidates make campaign stops in Utah," he said. "I thought it would be great to bring the senator to Park City." The visit will be strictly a cash-raising affair, with no public rally or speech. Attending the general reception will require a $500 contribution and the "VIP reception" will cost $2,300 per person. Supporters can become co-hosts of the event for $10,000. The location of the receptions will provided with the reservation.

Gilbert would not speculate on how much cash Obama will raise at the Utah stop. "We're not placing a dollar amount on the event," he said. "The goal is to let the most people possible meet the senator." Obama collected $27,900 from 30 Utah donors in the first quarter of 2007. Candidate fund-raising disclosures for the second quarter are due out Sunday.

Obama's willingness to visit a state that is considered a Republican lock says much about the Senator's efforts to open American politics, Gilbert said. "He wants to be the president for all 50 states." - Glen Warchol