# Why do some people think Utah may be in play?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-think-utah-may-be-in-play/762583
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [August 12, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-think-utah-may-be-in-play/762583 "2016-08-12T18:11:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 53

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### Author: ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-think-utah-may-be-in-play/762583/53 "2016-10-13T13:25:55Z")

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> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Okay it’s [just one poll but](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865664606/Poll-Trump-falls-into-tie-with-Clinton-among-Utah-voters.html?pg=all) … well well well.
> 
> Not only may be in play but could be in play for McMullin to get on board with! We could realistically see some more Trump support bleeding to him and some Johnson support switching over there as well.
> 
> If this poll is accurate (admittedly a big if) it’s 12% undecided and more choosing third parties than one of the two majors. Now _that’s_ uncertainty!

As I posted:

> [@Clinton v Trump - The Stretch Run Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/1399):
>
> The LDS church-owned [Deseret News](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865664336/In-our-opinion-Donald-Trump-should-resign-his-candidacy.html) believes Trump should resign in candidacy. They pointedly declined to endorse Clinton.
> 
> The Desert News hasn’t weighed in on a presidential election in 80 years.
> 
> It’s possible that this could actually have some influence on the race by encouraging more Mormons to not vote for Trump. Although the Deseret News is carefully claiming that this was their decision and not that of “the Church,” it will be seen that way by many of the members.
> 
> As I’ve posted, this could affect both Utah and Arizona. In addition, about 5% of Alaskans are nominally Mormons. Probably half or so of those are active, so that’s 2.5% to 3%.

I think that Utah could very well go for someone other than Trump this year. McMullin or Clinton could take it. I’m not there now so I don’t get a good feel for what is happening, but there is nothing but the sound of crickets on the Facebook posts of my ultra-conservative, Clinton-hating Mormon relatives. Very different from previous elections.

About 5% of Arizona residents are Mormon, with the same activity rate, so 2.5% to 3% of the voters could be active Mormons. If they believe the LDS church has said to not vote for Trump, that could turn it a little blue.

More about my previous post:

The “Trib,” Utah’s largest newspaper was founded as an anti-Mormon outlet more than a century ago. Back when I was growing up in Salt Lake (pre-Atari, post dinosaurs), the majority of the Mormons took the LDS-owned Deseret News and the Non-Mormons as well as some apostates(!) who wanted some real reporting.

That the Trib supports a Democrat is not news. It was recently purchased by Paul Huntsman the brother of Jon, the former presidential candidate.

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