Mitt Romney's campaign reportedly is pushing Utah's Republican party to move their primary to election earlier in 2012 so the state can have a bigger role in the nominating process. Making that move could cost up to $3 million. In your opinion, do you think the cost is worth giving the state a bigger profile on the national stage?

Having a separate primary in 2008 didn't make much difference for the state or for the Romney campaign. Utah should prioritize the welfare of its citizens, not the desires of one particular presidential candidate.

If we want to be an active and meaningful participant in the Presidential nominating process it is worth it. This isn't about a bigger profile, it is about meaningful participation. Especially with our state holding so many Republican office holders, we actually have a greater proportionate share of delegates than many other states for our size. We can make a difference as states "going" for a candidate can build momentum.

Considering all the moaning and groaning about money, that is just ridiculous!

The move will be viewed as an obvious ploy to help Romney and discredit Huntsman.

Any one smart enough to be President would know that Romney or Huntsman will carry the state so why waste your time coming here and campaigning? It may be interesting to see how far Romney would beat Huntsman but by then Huntsman may be out of the race.

The benefit should not be measured in "giving Utah a bigger profile on the national stage" but by bringing money to the state in the form of more visitors, more hotel rooms filled and more money spent in restaurants. State and local governments often spend money to bring conferences because of the economic stimulus and if it can be shown that a primary will bring more visitors and their money to the state then let's do it.

Romney believes he will win Utah. And his campaign would benefit from winning one of the fifty states EARLY in the cycle. Moving the primary date is in his self interest. However, Utah's 36 votes is miniscule relative to the strength in other states; so, in substance, winning early versus winning late makes little difference. Therefore, burdening Utah taxpayers with a $3 million primary is NOT worth it.

Needs to be the Western Region Primary with other states like Montana, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, etc.

Nobody cares what Utah does politically.

It would be much better to spend that money on our schools.

The intent of the Romney campaign's move is to knock Huntsman out of the race by showing he cannot win in his own state. The intent is not to give Utah a higher profile.

No one really knows how much the election will actually cost. $3 mil is what the state will reimburse the counties not the real cost.

I don't know what drives the additional $3 million, but at this point I don't think it makes economic sense for the state. If the idea is to hold the primary earlier so that the candidates will campaign in the state -- giving the state free publicity and the influx of new revenues the candidates would spend -- then I would say to hold off until 2016. Since Romney received 90% of the vote in Utah in 2008, most of the other candidates will write Utah off and not come to campaign.

Dear God - this again? Making changes for a national Republican Party that keeps treating Utahns like occultist whackos. Good job with your battered wife syndrome, Republicans.

Are you kidding? And we can't afford to put money in Utah's education system? How disgusting!

Who is to say this gives a us bigger profile? What if we end up being the state who decides the nomination because we have our primary later and don't vote for a candidate who has dropped out?

This is Romney just trying to boost his personal numbers. The fact that this would even be considered is just another sign of how out-of-touch our state leaders are with ethical conduct.

Regardless of Romney, the primary has to be moved up. Utah finally became relevant in 2008 and is the center of the political universe now. Do we honestly want to save $1 per citizen and have nothing to do with this election? Are we that cheap and short-sighted? Please, this one is easy--Utah wants a meaningful vote.

Once again, Utah shows its inferiority complex on the national political scene. The state is willing to scramble for the extra $ just to pretend we are a national contender. So silly.

Utah's unique political quirkiness and landscape will never play a major role in national elections. Others just don't care. We are too predictable.

We should have an early primary every 4 years regardless of who the frontrunners. By being early in Feb, it does put Utah into play to some degree.

It will simply not matter at the national level.

Just for Mitt's ego?

The legislature should make a commitment to regularly fund the presidential primary. Their on-again/off-again approach to this subject is embarrassing. Democracy is a good investment.

The legislature should make a commitment to regularly fund the presidential primary. Their on-again/off-again approach to this subject is embarrassing. Democracy is a good investment.

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If Utah were to move up the date of its primary election, would that have the desired result of bringing the state more attention in the process?

It would only be of interest if Romney lost.

Only this year because of Utah's unique connection to two Republican candidates.

It would bring SOME attention, but not enough to make a difference. Everyone already EXPECTS Romney to win Utah. Other candidates have little incentive to campaign in Utah because Romney will win it no matter who comes here.

Other candidates would not campaign in the state because they would know that Romney had it locked up. Even Huntsman might ignore the state and concentrate elsewhere.

Utah is not a competitive state and has few delegates. It is insignificant.

No, because the press would write off the Mormon winner of a Mormon primary. Duh.

Respondents include - 

Fred Adams, Stuart Adams, Jess Agraz, Scott Anderson, Patrice Arent, Bruce Baird, Tom Barberi, Heather Barney, Steve Barth, Jeff Bell, Tom Berggren, Mike Bertelsen, Ron Bigelow, Rob Bishop, Laura Black, Jim Bradley, Ralph Brown, Ken Bullock, Chris Bleak, Curt Bramble, Ralph Brown, Aaron Browning, Dave Buhler, Ken Bullock, Ric Cantrell, Maura Carabello, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Kay Christensen, David Clark, Thomas Clay, Peter Corroon, Fred Cox, Lew Cramer, Gene Davis, Richard Davis, Brad Daw, Alan Dayton, Margaret Dayton, Mike Deaver, Brad, Dee, Joseph Demma, John Dougall, Randy Dryer, Donald Dunn, Becky Edwards, Scott Ericson, Jessica Fawson, Janice Fisher, Wendy Fisher, Lorie Fowlke, Ronald Fox, Jordan Garn, Luke Garrott, Dave Gessel, Natalie Gochnour, Robert Grow, Karen Hale, David Hansen, Neil Hansen, Joe Hatch, Jeff Hartley, Deidre Henderson, Lyle Hillyard, Randy Horiuchi, Bruce Hough, Scott Howell, Miriam Hyde, Allison Isom, Eric Jergensen, Mike Jerman, Roger Johnson, Michael Jolley, Gordon Jones, Leslie Jones, Kirk Jowers, Brian King, Scott Konopasek, Chris Kyler, Fred Lampropoulos, Douglas Larson, David Litvack, Larry Lunt, Matt Lyon, Ben McAdams, Gayle McKeachnie, JT Martin, Jason Mathis, Karen Mayne, Rob Miller, Ethan Millard, Brett Millburn, Karen Morgan, Mike Mower, Holly Mullen, Wayne Niederhauser, Mike Noel, Ralph Okerlund, James Olsen, Val Oveson, Scott Parson, Kelly Patterson, Frank Pignanelli, Jason Powers, Joe Pyrah, Mike Reberg, Jill Remington Love, Lauren Richards, Holly Richardson, Robin Riggs, James Roberts, Luz Robles, Ross Romero, Don Savage, Bryan Schott, Jay Seegmiller, Patrick Shea, Randy Shumway, Soren Simonsen, Jeremy Slaughter, Carol Spackman-Moss, Howard Stephenson, Mike Styler, Todd Taylor, Juliette Tennert, Gary Thorup, Kevin Van Tassell, Royce Van Tassel, Michael Waddoups, Chuck Warren, Christine Watkins, LaVarr Webb, Todd Weiler, Alan West, Ted Wilson, Carl Wimmer, Mike Winder, Thomas Wright