First it was North Carolina, then Arizona and Georgia, and now, Utah? Mormons in the state reportedly find Trump's anti-Muslim schtick repulsive given their own history of religious persecution as well as doing international mission and refugee work. Alan Rappeport writes:
“The issue of religious liberty is an important one in the state, and the notion of a religious test for immigration raises deep concerns,” said Chris Karpowitz, a co-director of Brigham Young University’s Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy. “Mormons are sensitive to issues like this because of their own history.”
Mitt Romney, a hero in the state, has famously taken on Trump for his policies and refusal to release his tax returns. GOP Sen. Mike Lee, a Mormon and one-time endorser of Ted Cruz, still hasn't backed Trump. Now former CIA official and Republican Evan McMullin has entered the presidential race in the state, and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is making a play for the state's conservative voters.
“This is the first time since the mid-1960s that a Democratic presidential candidate could win in Utah,” said Peter Corroon, the party’s chairman in the state. “Unfortunately, it’s not because of the Democrat, it’s because of the Republican.”
Nonetheless, the Clinton campaign has staff on the ground in Utah, and it is dispatching former President Bill Clinton to the state for a fund-raising event this week. The campaign would not say if Mrs. Clinton would make a trip of her own, but the possibility remains.
Utah does not like Trump. He lost the primary there to Ted Cruz by a whopping 55 points, garnering just 14 percent of the vote. If enough Republicans see McMullin as a way out of voting for Trump, then who knows, Clinton might have a chance there.