Romney is effectively seeking public funding for his 2012 campaign (Evan Meyer/Dreamstime.com)
According to
a report in the Salt Lake Tribune, it seems that Mitt Romney is trying to game the GOP primary calendar by pushing Utah to hold its contest earlier than planned. An early primary could give Romney a boost at the start of the Republican nomination process, but it could cost the state millions. Nonetheless, Romney is pushing for the change:
Mitt Romney’s Utah advisers are working to try to get the state’s Republican presidential primary moved up, from late June to earlier in the spring where it might play a bigger role in the nomination process.
If the Romney camp is successful, it could set up an early showdown between Romney, chief of the 2002 Olympics in Utah, and former Gov. Jon Huntsman in Huntsman’s old backyard — and it is a contest that, according to recent statewide polls, Romney would likely win.
In 2008, Romney carried 90% of Utah's primary votes, a figure that would likely drop with the entrance of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman into the race. Still, given that Romney is still heavily favored, from his selfish perspective, it would make sense to have the primary moved to mid-March instead of slotted for the end of June as it currently stands.
The problem is that moving the primary could force the state to hold two different primary elections, one for the presidential campaign, the other for all other races. According to the article, that would cost Utah taxpayers between $2.5 and $3 million. And because it would help his campaign, Mitt Romney is eager to see them pay it.