But while the number of votes was small and insignificant, state Democratic Chairman Donald Dunn used a Texas-size sentence to deliver them with a flourish.

"The great state of Utah, home to Democrats from the beautiful red rocks of southern Utah and the snow-capped mountains along the Wasatch Front and the Wasatch Back, and home to proud Democrats in every corner and valley of the Beehive State, with visionary leaders like Scott and Jim Matheson, let it be known that every vote for John Kerry will be counted in Utah," Dunn said as the delegation cheered him on. "As a founding member of the Democrats for the West, Utah is delighted to cast all of our 28 votes to John Kerry, the next president of the United States."

Kerry finished a convincing first in Utah's presidential primary in February, capturing 55 percent of the vote. John Edwards made an impressive showing in second place, coming into the convention with eight pledged delegates. But all of those were thrown to Kerry in a show of unanimity in line with the convention theme of harmony. While the image is in some ways contrived, delegates' optimism for retaking the White House is genuine.

They are hoping to harness some of that positive energy for state and local races as well, with talk of rare opportunities to make Democratic gains in the Republican-dominated terrain of the interior West.

"When people see the 'D' after a candidate's name, it sets off all kinds in all too many people's minds of negative connotations that come from outside of the party," said Daniel Kemmis, a founding organizer of Democrats for the West.

"We want to define for ourselves as Western Democrats what that 'D' stands for," Kemmis, a former Montana House speaker, told Utah delegates. "It won't happen overnight. . . . But we're convinced that if the Democratic message could come across in a genuinely Western voice, that the West will come home again to the Democratic Party."

Kemmis pointed to encouraging signs in the latest election, including the victory of Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah after Republicans redrew his district boundaries to favor the GOP. He said the congressman's brother, Scott Matheson, has a legitimate shot in Utah's governor's race this year, as does Democrat Brian Schweitzer in Montana.

Several traditionally Republican states elected Democrats as governors in the 2002 election, including Wyoming, Arizona, Illinois, Michigan and Kansas. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius spoke Wednesday to the Utah caucus, bringing what she called a "message of hope from the Heartland."

"If it's possible in Kansas, it's possible in Utah," said Sebelius, who noted that only 28 percent of voters in her home state are registered as Democrats.

Improvements in affordable health care and education were key issues in Sebelius' victory and she said the same themes are being sounded by Matheson and other Democratic hopefuls.

"The citizens are really looking for a change," she said. "I'll be thrilled and come to celebrate at [Matheson's] inauguration."