During the 1980’s and 1990’s, presidential elections were decided by the moderates in both parties. Candidates moved towards the center in order to persuade moderates from the other side to join their efforts.
This all changed in the 2000’s when Republican officials centered the party around a more “right-wing” agenda. As a result, the Democrats have slowly moved towards a more progressive platform and sought to energize their base in the process. These tactics meant that elections were won by the candidate who could elicit the biggest response from his/her constituency of voters. It has been this way for the last three presidential election cycles.
However, with the unintelligent and divisive comments made by Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, it appears that the moderates in the Republican Party are again up for grabs.
And nowhere is this more evident than the state of Utah, where a large population of Mormon voters are displeased by the rudimentary actions of Donald Trump throughout the course of his campaign.
They are particularly offended by his comments towards the Muslim community. Mormons recognize they are a part of a religion that has been neglected and maligned in the past; and, when they see Donald Trump threatening to ban Muslims from entering the country, they have fears about religious freedom rights here in the United States.
His message of “America First” is also a turn-off for Mormons in Utah because of the religious work that they do around the world. Mormons are often well-educated members of society who see the potential in refugees and value the worth of immigrants who are here in the United States. Donald Trump’s anti-immigration and anti-refugee sentiments are not cohesive with the Mormon message of acceptance.
Donald Trump’s lack of Mormon support was evident during the Utah caucuses where he received only fourteen percent of the vote. And recent polls show that he and Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton are neck and neck with voters in the state.
The lack of support and ambivalence to vote for Donald Trump by Mormon voters has prompted Hillary Clinton to take action. She sees the opportunity to gain six electoral votes and is ready to do whatever it takes.
She has already posted an op-ed in the Deseret News, where she attempts to tie Donald Trump’s comments about Muslims to comments former President Rutherford B. Hayes made when trying to limit Mormon immigration to America back in 1879.
Hillary Clinton also cites popular Republican leaders like former Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney and Utah Governor Gary Herbert, who have publicly come out against Donald Trump and his prejudiced views. She is hoping that their support and her strong views on religious freedom will lead her to victory in Utah come November.
If she does it will be the first time a Democrat has won the state of Utah since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
A video of devout Mormon Mitt Romney publicly and thoroughly denouncing Donald Trump:
Featured image from video.
