"Perfectly timed, perfectly orchestrated and perfectly executed," Sen. Bob Bennett said at the close of four days of tightly scripted, made-for-TV sessions that showcased the principles of the GOP, the administration's accomplishments of the past four years and Bush's plans for a second term.

"This has been an exceptional convention that we'll never forget," said Gov. Olene Walker, who with Bennett co-chaired Utah's contingent to the political extravaganza.

Utah delegates praised Bush's outline for a second term in an acceptance speech that included pledges for more affordable housing, rural health clinics, new tax credits, cheaper health care insurance for small business, simplifying the tax code and creating new "American opportunity zones."

"If I compare Kerry's speech with the president's, Kerry was still going backwards, returning to 40 years of failed policy," said 1st District Rep. Rob Bishop. "Bush's speech looked forward. He's still one of the few politicians who believes what he says and has the conviction to make it happen."

Added Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff from beneath a cowboy hat decorated with Bush-Cheney pins and stickers: "He's someone who speaks from his heart."

Sen. Orrin Hatch claimed indirect credit for one of the convention's most electrifying moments, the scathing denunciation of Kerry and the Democratic Party by one of its own, Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga.

"About three or four months ago I went to him and said, 'Zell, would you be willing to speak at our national convention?' and he said, 'I think I would,' ” Hatch said. "So I called [Bush senior political adviser] Karl Rove and said, 'Let's get Zell Miller' and boy, that took off."

Bennett said according to briefings he and other party leaders have had from pollsters and nonpartisan political analysts, Bush is expected to widen his narrow preconvention lead over Kerry among undecided voters.

"The consensus is that Bush is probably going to get a bounce; the convention worked," said Bennett. "That doesn't mean it's won, that doesn't mean it's over, but the momentum has shifted."

Bennett also said based on the most recent polling data available to the party, Republicans should net another three or four seats in the Senate in November, expanding its current slim majority of 51 seats to a more comfortable 54 or 55 seats.

Such a gain would make it much more difficult for Democrats to filibuster GOP-backed legislation. Bennett, a member of Senate majority leadership, also is confident that GOP challenger John Thune will beat incumbent Democratic Senate Minority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota.