SALT LAKE CITY -- Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney arrived in Utah Tuesday morning and attended a fundraiser at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.
His plane touched down at Salt Lake International Airport at approximately 11:14 a.m. He deplaned at 11:20 a.m. and shook hands with a group of local Boy Scouts who waited for him on the tarmac. After greeting the Boy Scouts, Romney immediately entered a black SUV - part of a motorcade headed toward the hotel.
Nearly 1000 supporters attended the $1,000 per-plate hotel luncheon, including Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Sen. Mike Lee.
Romney arrived in Utah just as a recently released video of him went viral showing the candidate in a surprisingly candid manner of speaking about Obama supporters.The video was taken at a private fundraising event in May, but recently made national news as it potentially damages Romney's campaign.
Tim Chambless, of Hinckley Institute of Politics, said Romney's stop in Utah is for reassurance as much as fundraising.
"Reassurance, for support. Today is seven weeks away from the November 6th general election day. He has strong support in Utah. He is dropping in the polls, his has a campaign that is in trouble and Utah is a safe haven," said Chambless.
Romney left Utah around 1 p.m., shortly after the luncheon was over. This was his last scheduled stop in Utah before the election.
