This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
The presidential contest is coming to Utah even if the Republican debate is not. Candidates from both parties are planning public events and the campaigns are spending heavily on TV ads ahead of Tuesday's presidential caucuses. Here's a rundown of what we know so far.
The Republicans • There's no indication front-runner Donald Trump will visit the state after he helped nix the presidential debate planned for Monday, or that he is seriously vying for any of Utah's 40 delegates. That leaves his two challengers — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich — to vie for support in the Beehive State.
Kasich has three events planned for Friday. The first is at Utah Valley University's Sorenson Student Center at 11:30 a.m., then the University of Utah's Student Union at 3:30 p.m. He plans to wrap up the day at Davis High School at 6 p.m.
Cruz will be in the state Saturday, though his campaign is still working on the details of his events.
Both have bought TV ads beginning Wednesday.
The Democrats • Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders may have had a rough week with five primary losses, but he solders on and that includes a campaign stop in Salt Lake City this Friday. Sanders will hold a rally at This is the Place Heritage Park, with the doors opening at 12:30 p.m. and the program beginning at 3:30 p.m. His well-funded campaign has also sent mailers to Utahns, and placed ads on radio and television. The TV ads cost more than $180,000 and are expected to run 385 times on the four main broadcast stations.
Hillary Clinton has announced no visits to the state and no TV ads either. She's relying on surrogates. After her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, visited the state on Tuesday, the Hillary Clinton campaign has dispatched Michelle Kwan, the decorated Olympic figure skater, who will make an appearance Thursday, joining in on a phone bank in Salt Lake City before attending a public event at the community room of the Park City Library (1255 Park Ave.) starting at 1 p.m.
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The caucuses • The Utah Republican Party is hosting the first online presidential caucus vote in the nation and has extended registration until Thursday at midnight. Voters need to sign up at http://www.utah.gop and only registered Republicans will be allowed to cast a ballot Tuesday. If a candidate gets at least 50 percent of the vote, he'll claim all of the state's delegates. If not, the delegates will be split proportionately among those getting at least 15 percent.
The Democratic caucus, which is in-person only, will award 37 delegates proportionately. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated Utah voters can find their caucus locations by going to caucus.utah.gov.