ST. GEORGE – The results of two new polls released Thursday place Donald Trump at the head of the pack of presidential hopefuls in Utah, with Hillary Clinton in second place and Evan McMullin in third.
The numbers are a reverse from some recent polling trends that have placed McMullin close to, or slightly ahead of Trump.
The results of a new Monmouth University poll puts Trump at 37 percent in Utah, with Hillary Clinton following behind at 31 percent, and McMullin at 24 percent. Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson came in at 4 percent. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.9 percent.
“It’s been nearly 50 years since a third party candidate won any state’s electoral votes. That streak should remain intact,” said Patrick Murray, director of the non-partisan Monmouth University Polling Institute, on the Manmouth website regarding the new results. “While McMullin has cut into Trump’s partisan support, the independent candidate has not broken out of third place.”
The other poll, conducted by Heat Street/Rasmussen Reports, puts Trump at 41 percent, Clinton at 31 percent, McMullin at 21 percent, and Johnson as 3 percent. The margin for error is plus or minus 4 percent.
“Utah Republicans appear to be coming home to Trump as his race with Clinton tightens,” according to the Rasmussen Report.
“Utahns are pragmatic, when push comes to shove, Utahns come through like they always do,” said James Evans, chairman of the Utah Republican Party. “They understand that a vote against Trump is a vote for Hillary Clinton. Utah does not want to see a continuation of the Obama administration which is exactly what Hillary Clinton would be.”
Earlier this week several Utah GOP leaders held a really at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City asking Republican voters thinking of backing McMullin to “come home” to the Republican Party and support the party’s nominee.
Among those calling for Utah Republicans to support Trump were Rep. Chris Stewart and Sen. Orrin Hatch.
The McMullin campaign issued the following statement in regards to Thursday’s polling results:
There have been several polls released, and the majority show us ahead or statistically tied with Donald Trump and beating Hillary Clinton. We’re the only campaign running a real ground game in Utah and talking directly to thousands of Utah citizens every day. We believe momentum is on our side and that a majority of Utahns are rejecting Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
In this election, Utahns will have to make a very important decision about whether they will vote for Trump or stand with our campaign that is centered on timeless conservative principles. The reality is: Utah will likely either go to me or to Donald Trump. Utahns can vote for more of the same or they can choose to stand up for something better. I believe the positive, uplifting campaign that Mindy Finn and I have been running offers the people of Utah the only good alternative to the two deeply-flawed and corrupt major party candidates.
Both the Monmouth University and Rasmussen Report noted that the majority of the Utahns polled believe Clinton will ultimately win the election.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
I can,t imagine anyone I utah with brains voting for Trump, just my opinion.. But look at his comments, his past failures, short temper and love of white rich people..do we stand a chance..
I can’t imagine anybody in Utah with brains voting for Hillary, just my opinion. but look at her lies and failures and love of rich white people that donate to her foundation..do we stand a chance
Great response 4 dot.
TURMP/PENCE 2016
I can’t imagine you with a brain.
Hey RealLowlife I agree with your comment 100% . can’t Imagine you with a brain ! you said it dummy !
McMullin claims that he’s running a “positive, uplifting campaign”, asking Utahns to “stand up for something better”? Yeah, right. It’s encouraging that the majority of Utahns are recognizing Evan McMullin’s true motive, as he stated himself:
“…we will be, you know, happy to have prevented someone who I believe is a true authoritarian from taking power in the United States and that is Donald Trump.”
– Evan McMullin, in a 6 October interview with journalist Austen Petersen.
I have a brain and I am voting for Trump!
Be careful what you wish for, it just might happen. And it may not be what you wanted.
I’m voting 4 Chucky the doll
I voted for Johnson.
This country is headed for trouble. The two main parties have been running the show for a long time. Evan McMullin may not get to the white house, but I want to send a clear message that I will not vote for the lesser of two evils and demand superior individuals be nominated which express a clear, Constitutional and conservative message. Is McMullin all of this, I don’t think so, but I believe him to be a superior choice to what the GOP or Democrats have coughed up.
I’ve received calls from people claiming to be with major polls and if you haven’t figured it out yet, carefully worded polls with predetermined choices can give you the exact results they are looking for. The one I did didn’t even mention Castle of the Constitutional Party nor would it allow him to be given as an answer! The mainstream media keeps working to lead us in the direction THEY think we should go. Well, I’ve had enough. Even if I wasn’t going to vote for McMullin, I would go and listen to him on Sat Nov 5 at the Dixie Convention Center at 7:30 pm. Heck, I might evan ask him a challenging question.
I’ve had enough of the it’s really a vote for HRC (who should be in jail) or I’m throwing away my vote. You see it is MY vote that the candidates need to convince me to vote for them, not a vote against this or that. The best possible outcome at this point would be for McMullin to win the six electoral votes that belong to Utah and throw the final outcome to a vote by the states in Congress. McMullin is putting all his eggs into the the Utah results, knowing he can’t win the election outright, due to how the system works. Think of it, because of McMullin, Utah does matter in this very important election. If McMullin wasn’t in the race Utah would, most likely, stay the taken for granted red state it has been.
I would urge the democrats in our state who know Clinton should NOT be the president to vote third party. Don’t you want the first women president to be a great one, rather than an out and out criminal? While Castle of the Constitutional Party is a good choice, the reality is he doesn’t stand a chance of winning Utah and McMullin does. The only thing that needs to happen is that you and those you know consider what you want your vote to say about the future of this country.
I hope I see and maybe hear you at the Dixie Convention Center Saturday night Nov 5 at 7:30 pm and then decide for yourself what is best for you, Utah and the country.
McMullin is a self admitted globalist.
He is Hillary’s “front” man.
TRUMP/PENCE 2016
McMullin is no different than every other establishment candidate that Trump beat during the primary.
If he is the ‘principled’ Mormon and THE choice for Utah, then where’s Romney, Lee, Huntsman etc..talking up/endorsing this guy?
This vote is for the President of the United States not the President of Utah. The 6 Utah electorals should and historical have gone to the Republican candidate; Trump needs every electoral vote possible in his column to defeat Hillary.
McMullin is #NeverTrump – they want Hillary to win.
Vote Trump/Pence
Watch Trump’s astounding endorsement!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oUIe_Kwaj4
Wow, a video from 10 years ago, delivering a political opinion. How about a video of you stealing a lollipop from your sister back in grade school? LOL