Mitt gives McCain big Utah boost
Lee Benson
Not bad for a man who garnered a whopping 5 percent of the vote in the Utah Republican primary a month and a half ago.
For most people, a visit to Salt Lake City's only five-star hotel produces a lighter wallet.
But McCain isn't most people. Barring public embarrassment or outright abandonment, he will be the Republican nominee once the party holds its national convention this September.
And you know what that means: People give you money.
Yesterday, McCain got a lot of money from a lot of people who once gave their money to Mitt Romney.
Take Ralph Yarro and his wife, Jackie, as an example. Two months ago, the Provo couple couldn't imagine giving their money or their support to anyone but Romney. And they were hardly alone in a state that contributed in excess of $6 million to the Romney for President campaign and on Super Tuesday carried Romney to a Utah primary victory with 90 percent of the vote.
But then Romney, who didn't receive Utah-type support everywhere, dropped out of the race and there the Yarros were at the Grand America yesterday, lined up to present new cash to their newest favorite candidate, Sen. John McCain.
"I think the best way to put it is because Mitt Romney's not running anymore," said Ralph Yarro candidly.
"John McCain is the right candidate now," he continued. "I don't want to say it's by default ...."
Yarro stopped talking because passing within three feet of him was none other than Mitt Romney.
After he and Jackie shook hands with their favorite former presidential candidate, Ralph Yarro observed as Romney walked away in the direction of the McCain fundraiser, "That would be a perfect pair."
McCain and Romney, he meant. President and vice president.
Just how much Romney helped McCain yesterday by attending the reception is not easy to calculate, but "considerable" is probably a good guess.
After getting $177,000 in donations from Utahns in nearly a year of campaigning, the Arizona senator more than doubled that in two hours.
The Yarros were definitely not alone as waves of former Romney backers filed into the hotel ballroom to mingle again with the man they had hoped would become president and line up for photos with the man they now hope becomes president.
The exact number of attendees is hard to say because no one was allowed past security unless they had registered to attend the lunch for $1,000 or the lunch/reception for the maximum allowable donation of $2,300.
But I can report the mood was definitely upbeat outside the entrance — especially when Romney appeared.
The man can raise money even when he's not raising money.
And word has it he does need a job.
Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.
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