Utah has seen a barrage of attention from presidential candidates this time around, and today, voters will get their chance to choose which contender they want to lavish with their support.
As one of 24 states casting ballots today, Utah will award its Democratic and Republican delegates as part of what is almost a national primary day.
"This is the closest thing to the general election we'll feel until November," says Peter Watkins, a former spokesman for President Bush who now teaches a class in political communication at the University of Utah. "It is definitely a big day, especially given the fact that the Democratic race is so tight."
And in a tight race, even little ol' Utah may get to play a role.
With Clinton and Obama trying to take a big lead in the delegate count, every delegate is a prize, even the 23 up for grabs in the Beehive State. Both candidates are on the air in Utah with political ads and have paid staffers and offices in the state hoping to churn out votes.
And while no presidential candidates campaigned in the state in the run up to Utah's primary, Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, and Obama's wife, Michelle, flew into Salt Lake City to stump for their respective candidates. Former President Bill Clinton came last year.
Democrats apportion their delegates by the results of today's primary, with the statewide winner taking eight delegates and the remaining 15 are doled out by congressional district. That means that if Obama wins, for example, Clinton may still nab several delegates from the state.
On the Republican side, though, the winner of the state takes all 36 delegates. Since Romney, who owns a home in the state, shares his faith with more than 60 percent of residents and ran the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, is essentially an adopted Utah native, he is expected to take the state handily.
Today's election may be the culmination of a historic year in Utah politics, in which almost every major presidential candidate appeared in the state. Most came to raise funds, though candidates chatted with the public or news media in some way as well.
tburr@sltrib.com
