SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Mike Pence rallied in Utah Wednesday in a bid to fend off a third party challenge from an independent conservative that threatens Donald Trump’s hold on this reliably Republican state.
The Trump campaign dispatching Pence, the vice presidential running mate, to Utah with less than two weeks to go was a clear recognition that they’re worried about Evan McMullin.
Republican insiders here believe that the upstart candidate is poised to win the state’s six Electoral College votes. As he is in other parts of the country, Trump is weaker in Utah than past GOP nominees.
A loss here could be fatal, no matter how close he keeps the presidential race in the traditional battlegrounds, and Pence didn’t sugarcoat the issue of the top of the ticket’s weakness with voters of his own party.
“It’s time to reach out to our fellow Republicans and say with one voice: It’s time to come home. I want you to tell your Republican neighbors and friends, this is no time to make a statement — this is our chance to make a difference,” Pence said to a raucous full house at the Infinity Events Center in downtown Salt Lake City.
“A vote for any candidate other than Donald Trump, is a vote for a weaker America at home and abroad,” Pence added.
Polls show a dead heat in Utah between Trump, McMullin and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, with each candidate pulling around 30 percent, give or take a few points depending on the poll.
In the past five presidential elections, the Republican nominee has pulled 66 percent of the vote in Utah.
That Trump is still attempting to scrape together what should be his natural coalition is a remarkable statement on the uphill climb he faces — in Utah and nationally — with less than two weeks to go until Election Day.
Pence filled his Wednesday afternoon rally with several hundred enthusiastic Trump supporters — there didn’t appear to be any window shoppers.
But even some of them conceded that Trump is in a precarious position in Utah, and said they’re worried that McMullin might win.
“It’s really close,” said retiree and Trump supporter Louise Nielsen. “I’m doing whatever I can to help because I think it’s too close.”
“I think he could take Utah, and that would be bad,” said her husband, Kent Nielsen, 69.
