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SALT LAKE CITY — Two-thirds of Utah voters say they're less likely to vote for a candidate who backs Democrat Hillary Clinton for president while 45 percent feel the same way about someone on the ballot who's behind Republican Donald Trump.
"It's really amazing to see the ambivalence and the uncertainty," University of Utah political science professor Tim Chambless said of the results of a recent UtahPolicy.com poll released Monday.
While it's not surprising many voters in a reliably Republican state would hesitate to get behind a local or state candidate who has endorsed Clinton, Chambless said the numbers make it clear they're also uncomfortable with Trump.
Nearly a quarter — 23 percent — of Republicans said they're less likely to vote for a Trump supporter running for office, while just 6 percent of Democrats would stay away from a candidate backing Clinton.
The same poll found Trump leading Clinton in Utah, 39 percent to 24 percent. The poll, conducted Sept. 1-9 by Dan Jones & Associates of 605 likely Utah voters, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.98 percent.
What it also shows, Chambless said, is that both Republican and Democratic candidates may be better off keeping their distance from the major party presidential picks.
Related:
Trump lead over Clinton in Utah widens slightly in new poll
Republican Donald Trump has slightly widened his lead over Democrat Hillary Clinton in Utah, but both are still ahead of the third-party presidential candidates in a UtahPolicy.com poll released Monday.That is what's happening in the 4th District rematch between Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, and Doug Owens, the Democrat who came within 5 percentage points of winning the seat two years ago.
Neither Love nor Owens have endorsed in the presidential race, and both candidates in what is seen as the state's most competitive race skipped their party's national political convention this summer.
Love told KSL Newsradio's Doug Wright last week that while Clinton is a candidate "who's not going to be on the side of Utahns," she has not yet decided whether she can endorse Trump.
"I’m not closing the door on Donald Trump. There's still a lot to learn about him," the first-term congresswoman said, adding that endorsing candidates means "you own everything they say."
Owens has had little to say about the presidential race other than that he will vote for Clinton. He has not participated in Clinton campaign's efforts in Utah, which have included visits by several surrogates, including Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.
Taylor Morgan, Owens' spokesman, said in a statement Monday that Owens "will be a strong, independent voice for Utah in Congress, and he'll work to hold a president of either party accountable to do what's best for Utah."
Staying far away from national Democratic politics is a strategy followed by the last Democrat elected to Congress from Utah, Rep. Jim Matheson, who served seven terms before he decided not to seek reelection in the 4th District in 2014.
This year, though, Republicans in Utah are also staying away from their party's presidential candidate. Like Love, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has also said he's not ready to endorse Trump.
And while Gov. Gary Herbert, who counts Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, as a friend, has announced he's voting for his party's presidential ticket, he has also made it clear that's not an endorsement of Trump.
Chambless, associated with the U.'s Hinckley Institute of Politics, said at best, the top of the ticket can be a wash for candidates since both Republicans and Democrats can be dragged down by being associated with their presidential choices.
"This year, the national nominees don't have coattails," Chambless said. "They have anchors."
