The Park Record reports on Barack Obama's friend in Snyderville Basin: Kristi Cumming.

Last week, the 41-year-old former U.S. Ski Team racer (and daughter-in-law of Ian Cumming, Utah's long-time Democratic party money bags before he decamped to Jackson Hole) became one of Utah's superdelegates to the national Democratic convention, putting her in a key position to help Obama clinch the nomination.

Utah democrats bestowed the honor on Cumming in large part because she and her husband John hosted Obama at their house for a fundraiser in August. It not only raised $250,000 for Obama, but triggered an enthusiastic, if impromtu public rally near Kimball Junction that proved Obama has appeal in Utah that surprised even Democrats.