Trump op-ed counters Clinton’s pitch to Utah voters

Donald Trump on Monday published an op-ed countering Hillary Clinton’s recent outreach to Mormon voters.

Trump’s op-ed in The Deseret News portrays the GOP presidential nominee as a better fit for Utah’s residents than his Democratic counterpart. 

{mosads}“In just over two months, Utah and all of America will choose our next president,” he said in the paper, owned by the Mormon church. “The bottom line is that we can’t afford a third Obama term, and that’s what Hillary Clinton represents.

“Utahans know that after eight years adrift under President Obama, we need to make America great again by supporting our law enforcement, ending illegal immigration, defeating [the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria], bringing back jobs and restoring conservative values.”

Trump accused Obama and Clinton of supporting policies that weaken religious liberty in faith-centric communities nationwide.

“Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have tried to undermine our religious liberties on the altar of political correctness,” he said. “They have challenged the rights of businesses and religious institutions to speak openly about their faith. Undermining religious liberty has been a trend in the Democratic Party for decades.”

Trump additionally touted support for his campaign from multiple prominent Republicans in the Beehive State.

“Earning support and trust from the voters of Utah is a top priority for me,” he said. “It is why I am pleased to have the endorsement of so many great leaders like Gov. Gary Herbert and U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, among others.

“As the people of the Beehive State know, the results of this election could have catastrophic consequences for our businesses, religious institutions, military and families, or it could release remarkable growth, safety and prosperity for generations to come.”

Clinton made her appeal to Utah’s large Mormon population during her own Deseret News op-ed published last week.

“I’ve been fighting to defend religious freedom for years,” she said on Aug. 10. “As secretary of State, I made it a cornerstone of our foreign policy to protect the rights of religious minorities around the world – from Coptic Christians in Egypt, to Buddhists in Tibet.”

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make up 60 percent of Utah’s population and typically vote overwhelmingly Republican.

Trump finished third in Utah’s GOP presidential caucuses with 14 percent of the vote. His results there has some Democrats hoping they can turn the state blue for the first time in 52 years.