A small crowd gathered outside the University of Utah Student Union on Wednesday to cheer on professional comedian Bielik, who leads the Vote for Hope campaign for Intermountain Donor Services and challenging students to sign up to become an organ, eye or tissue donor.

"We are the state's largest party," Bielik said. "More than the frat party. Even the Tupperware party. We promise hope."

Best known as "the guy in the cab" commercials who asked questions about organ donation, he has been an advocate for five years.

Ninety-six percent of Utahns favor organ donation, said Ben Dieterle with Intermountain Donor Services.

"There are 300 Utahns on a waiting list for organ transplants and tens of thousands for tissue transplants, such as corneas or skin grafts," said Dieterle. He added 86,000 Americans are waiting a life-saving organ transplant.

"We are trying to have fun with the election by having this rally," said Dieterle. "It's an issue that we all, and I mean Democrats, Republicans, agree upon - that organ donation saves lives."

In Utah in 2003, 249 lives were saved by 69 organ donors, and there were 531 documented tissue donors, according to Intermountain Donor Services.

Holding one "Vote for Hope" sign was Jeff Brunner, a social work intern at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Brigham Young University student.

"I have a brother who will have to probably have a kidney transplant," said Brunner, who is from Spanish Fork. His brother, Chris, has one functioning kidney, a result of a vehicle accident ten years ago.

"One single vote can save nine lives. What party can offer that nine to one return?" Bielik asked, to a round of cheers from supporters.

"You can cast a vote for a breath of fresh air with lung donation! A vote for pumping it up through heart donation! . . . Give fellow Americans a promise for life."

For information on becoming a donor, call 800-83-DONOR.