The Republican presidential nominee is ahead in the race for Utah’s electoral votes – which wouldn’t be a headline except for the fact that his lead is a relatively meager 6 points. The Monmouth University Poll finds Donald Trump staving off a challenge from both Hillary Clinton and independent candidate Evan McMullin. More than 2-in-3 voters in one of the nation’s most reliable Republican states say Trump does not share their values and he lacks the temperament to serve as president.
Among Utah voters likely to cast ballots in November’s presidential election, 34% currently support Trump, 28% back Clinton, 20% back McMullin, and 9% support Libertarian Gary Johnson. Green Party candidate Jill Stein has 1% of the vote and another 6% are undecided. Historically, the GOP nominee tends to enjoy a winning margin in the 30 to 50 point range. The only time in more than 50 years when the Republican margin of victory was less than 20 points occurred back in 1992. That election saw Utah’s vote divided among three candidates – 43% George H.W. Bush, 27% Ross Perot, 25% Bill Clinton.
“While this race is close, it is unclear whether Clinton or McMullin has the better opportunity to upset Trump,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. [Note: nearly all the interviews for this poll were conducted before news of sexual assault allegations against Trump received wide coverage on Wednesday.]
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