This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Ted Cruz may no longer be in the Republican presidential race, but his slate of national delegates swept the field at the Utah GOP convention.

Now, at least two of those Cruz delegates who beat out such high-profile establishment types as House Speaker Greg Hughes and former Gov. Mike Leavitt are asking for help getting to the national convention in Cleveland.

National delegates Larry Meyers and David Pyne posted pleas for money on the Great GOP Utah State Delegates Facebook page, thanking fellow delegates for electing them and saying they cannot afford the trip.

Meyers has set up a "Send Larry to Cleveland for Cruz Fund."

Pyne wrote he is kicking off a fundraiser for the trip, seeking "any amount you might want to contribute."

Follow the leader • These Cruz delegates seem to have borrowed a theme from the former candidate himself.

I have written about the plethora of emails I received from Cruz asking me for money. I have also written about other Utahns who have gotten the same emails, including prominent Democrats such as Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Millcreek.

But my favorite might be the emails Cruz sent to Salt Lake Tribune reader Wayne Bickley. He has received all the ones that I have gotten, but his are always addressed to "Earline."

That brings up the question: Which public bathroom does Cruz think Wayne "Earline" Bickley ought to use.

No means yes? • Utah Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka has played a dominant role in Beehive State politics for years, striking fear among Republican legislators for her "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" power in determining nominations in conventions and causing angst among liberals for her steely resistance to many of their causes.

But, you have to say, she's a good sport.

Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams played a video at the county Democratic convention last month featuring Democrat after Democrat standing proudly and smiling as they announced their support for his nomination to a second term.

At the end, Ruzicka appeared on the screen to say she opposed the nomination. That might have been the most popular "endorsement" of all as the crowd roared its approval.

Free media • Republican gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Johnson was at the right place at the right time.

The latest edition of the Ensign, the official monthly magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, included the talk by Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the faith's governing First Presidency, during the priesthood session of last month's LDS General Conference. He spoke of the responsibilities of the male-only priesthood members and their role in "eternal families."

The article was accompanied by a photo of a three-generation family of 10 priesthood holders standing outside downtown Salt Lake City's Conference Center. The family was not identified, but the smiling priesthood holder standing second from the right was Johnson, who is challenging Gov. Gary Herbert for the Republican nomination in next month's primary. prolly@sltrib.com