But it may shock some people to learn that Democrats John Edwards and Hillary Clinton raised the second and third most cash in the nation's reddest state during the last three months.

In fact, five of the top six candidates hauling money out of Utah during the period were Democrats.

Edwards, who held a fund-raiser last month in Salt Lake City, raised $75,903 in the state, while Clinton, who hasn't set foot in Utah for years, took in $44,110, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Romney, who ran the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and who shares his Mormon faith with most Utahns, raked in far more than the rest of the other candidates combined - more than $1 million.

Romney may be limiting the money other GOP candidates can raise in the state, observers say, but the Democratic wave across the nation may also have some impact. Nationwide, Democratic candidates are far out-raising their GOP counterparts.

"It reflects activity in the state," says Kelly Patterson, director of the Brigham Young University Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, noting that Edwards and Romney have visited Utah courting donors.

"The other dimension reflects the overall general enthusiasm that Democrats seem to have for the presidential race," Patterson adds. "Democrats are raising more money than Republicans, so Utahns are going to see the spillover effect."

Patterson argues, however, that other GOP candidates may have raised more money in the state if Romney were not a contender. Money isn't limitless in Utah.

"Whatever enthusiasm for the presidential race there is in Utah on the Republican side, Gov. Romney is occupying that space," he says.

But Democratic candidates say supporters can be found in every state, no matter what political color the state usually displays.

"John Edwards isn't only fighting to improve the lives of Americans living in blue states or in early states," says his spokeswoman Colleen Murray. "His message of change resonates in every corner of the country, and his support in Utah is proof of that."

Added Phil Singer, spokesman for the Clinton campaign, "Americans throughout the country - in red states and blue - are ready for change and know that Hillary has the strength and experience to deliver that change."

More Democrats are likely to cash in on Utah donors soon, too. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson held a fundraiser in the state Friday that reportedly raised $40,000 and Chris Dodd dropped into town Saturday and picked up some $13,000. Illinois Senator Barack Obama will hit the state in early August to raise cash.

Utah Democratic Chairman Wayne Holland says his party's deep field of contenders is reaping contributions thanks to a big effort by party members to make the state more than a flyover spot in the 2008 race.

"It's no accident," he said. "We started working this in January" Ð including hand-delivering invitations to all of the major candidates to visit the state.

Utah is "fertile ground for Democrats," Holland says, despite the GOP's dominance in the state. "There's opportunity here."

tburr@sltrib.com