Utah Republicans forked over more than $750,000 for just that opportunity Thursday.

Some went the inexpensive route, buying a $500 seat at a fundraiser for Sen. Orrin Hatch, with eight rich die-hards pledging annual $25,000 donations to the Utah Republican Party. In exchange, they got a photograph with the president and a place in the party's new "Ronald Reagan Club."

Bush headlined the biggest fundraiser in Hatch's 30-year Senate career, loaded the state party's coffers and helped 2nd Congressional District hopeful LaVar Christensen.

And all in little more than an hour.

Bush spoke before the American Legion convention at the Salt Palace earlier, then made his way to the Grand America, where he addressed a crowd of about 1,200 supporters. While he broke no new ground, Bush touched on many of his administration's key policies, from the war in Iraq to tax cuts, from the need for health care lawsuit reform to his desire to reduce America's dependence on international oil. Bush sprinkled compliments of Hatch throughout.

"People like to hear him, . . . they trust him, they trust his judgment. And so do I," he said.

Bush thanked Hatch for help passing the Patriot Act, for confirming his picks to the Supreme Court and for backing his tax cuts.

"He's decent, he's honorable, he gets the job done," Bush said.

Hatch's Democratic opponent, Pete Ashdown, disagrees. He issued a statement following Bush's speech criticizing the president for ignoring the desires of the Iraqi people, for pushing the Patriot Act, which Ashdown believes infringes on privacy rights, and for the fundraiser in general.

"I will fight for democracy, independence and prosperity for all Utahns and all Americans," Ashdown said. "The opposition is someone who will fight only for those who can pay $500 or more for influence."

Before the speech, Bush participated in a photo op, agreeing to pose for 30 pictures, half selected by Hatch and half by the state GOP. Hatch's campaign picked people who helped sell tickets to the fundraiser, which raised $550,000 before expenses. The campaign expects to net about $400,000 from the event, the largest fundraiser Hatch has ever held, according to campaign manager Dave Hansen.

The state party picked a select group of high-end donors - those giving $25,000 - to meet Bush. Three had previously donated and eight signed up in advance of the president's visit, said Jeff Hartley, executive director of the Utah Republican Party, who also had his picture taken with the president. Hartley refused to name the eight donors Thursday, though they will be listed on future campaign disclosure forms as required by federal law.

Bush also allowed five other "greeters" to get a quick snapshot, including state party Chairman Joe Cannon, Hatch campaign advisers Mac Christensen and Stan Parrish, Grand America owner Earl Holding and 2nd District candidate LaVar Christensen.

The Republican challenger to U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson will undoubtedly use the shots in campaign ads. Bush's political adviser and former Utahn Karl Rove also gave Christensen some campaign advice, though Christensen refused to elaborate.

The fundraiser crowd included a Who's Who of Republicans, including Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., philanthropist Spencer Eccles and dozens of state legislators, many of whom accepted tickets purchased by local companies or political action committees.

In the midst was one prominent Democrat. State Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich accepted an invitation from Hatch to attend the fundraiser. He didn't pay for the ticket and doesn't know if someone else did or if Hatch just let him in.

"I am one of Orrin's buddies," he said. "He does me favors and I do him favors - actually it is more of a friendship thing."

Dmitrich wouldn't say he was endorsing Hatch's campaign.

"Putting it bluntly, I just stay out of the race," he said. "I'm sure Orrin wouldn't campaign against me either."

Dmitrich said he liked the president's speech, though he is not a fan of many of the president's policies, particularly on taxes, the deficit and the Iraq war.

mcanham@sltrib.com

On a lighter note:

The audience also got a rise out of President Bush's zingers. Here are

three aimed at Utah Republicans:

U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon's ''brother is chairman of the Republican Party. I like to remind the chairman that he's the cuter Cannon.''

Saying how much he enjoyed working with the Texas Legislature when he was governor, Bush turned to Utah's Jon Huntsman Jr. and said: ''I hope, governor, you're having as much fun working with them as I had. And if not, just keep telling them what to do, and eventually they'll get the message.''

As Bush started wrapping up his speech, he looked back at Hatch and then said: ''He just told me, if I didn't end, he's going to make me listen to one of his songs. Actually the man has got some talent. And he's a great songwriter, but not as good a [songwriter] - as he is a senator.''