College Republicans at Brigham Young University are primed for grass-roots organizing when they return from summer break. A virtual war room is in the works for Salt Lake City. And the state Republican Party is making plans beyond its borders.
“Even during the primary days it was a big asset for us,’’ said Sarah Nelson, the Romney campaign’s political director for the West Coast. “It was one of the number one states in the country for phone banking.’’
During primary season, Utah volunteers went to Nevada in the final weekend to help Romney secure his win. Even in the early days of the general election, volunteers are making calls around the country to identify supporters, and a website for Romney super fans - “Mitt Romney Central’’ - is mobilizing workers.
“We’re going to move bodies to those battleground states and be involved on the ground, there’s no doubt about it,’’ Thomas Wright, chairman of the Utah Republican Party, said in an interview inside the state GOP headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City. “There’s so many people here who are motivated… . People are excited about Mitt Romney.’’
Utah has also disproportionally financed his rise on the national stage. In 2008, Romney raised more money in Utah than any other state except California. His fund-raising is down through April of this year compared with the same period in 2008, mainly because he has broadened his national fund-raising network. Yet he still has raised $3.6 million, making the state - 34th in population - the sixth-highest in Romney donations.
He is planning to bulk that up next Friday, when he comes to Utah for several high-dollar fund-raisers. In addition, Utah residents and businesses have donated at least $2.5 million to Restore Our Future, the super PAC supporting Romney.