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U.S. NEWS Friday 30 November 2018
Most Mormons back GOP, but fewer support Trump

From Front
By HANNAH FINGERHUT Republican congressio-
and BRADY McCOMBS, As- nal candidates, but only
sociated Press 56 percent said they ap-
WASHINGTON (AP) — proved of Trump.
About two-thirds of Mor- By comparison, 8 in 10
mon voters nationwide white evangelical Chris-
favored Republicans in tians nationwide voted for
the midterm elections, but Republican candidates,
President Donald Trump's and nearly as many (79
approval rating among percent) said they ap-
members of the faith prove of Trump. Among
lagged behind, according Catholics, nearly half voted
to a nationwide survey of for Republican candidates
midterm voters. and said they approve of
And as Republican Sen. Trump (49 percent each).
Mitt Romney prepares to Nationally, 45 percent of
join the new Congress in voters said they approve of
January, most voters in the the way Trump is handling
predominantly Mormon his job as president, while
state of Utah — 64 percent 55 percent disapprove.
— would like to see the Among Republican vot-
senator confront the presi- ers nationwide, 85 percent
dent, AP VoteCast found. said they approve of the In this Sept. 16, 2018, file photo, Sam Young speaks during a press conference in Salt Lake City.
About half of Romney's way Trump is handling his Associated Press
supporters — including his job as president.
Mormon supporters — said Trump has struggled since
they would like to see the he was a presidential can-
former Massachusetts gov- didate to gain accep-
ernor stand up to Trump, tance among Mormons
while about as many indi- and in Utah, where the
cated the senator should mostly Mormon electorate
support Trump if elected. has long been uncomfort-
The new data reaffirms able with his brash style
Trump's struggle to gain and his comments about
widespread acceptance women and immigrants.
among Mormons despite He won the deep-red state
the faith's deep-rooted in the 2016 election, but
conservative leanings. many conservative vot-
Voters of other religious ers cast ballots instead for
faiths such as evangelical third-party candidate Evan
Christians and Catholics McMullin as Trump earned
are more consistent in their the lowest percentage of
ratings of the president and the vote among GOP pres-
vote choice. Across most idential candidates since
other religious affiliations, 1992.
about the same share vot- Members of the religion,
ed for Republican candi- which forbids its members
dates as said they approve from using alcohol or to-
of the president. bacco and teaches that
That's not the case with gay marriage and homo-
Mormons: 67 percent vot- sexual relationships are a
ed for Republicans, but 56 sin, place a high value on
percent said they approve manners, amiability and
of the way Trump is han- public diplomacy. The
dling his job as president. Church of Jesus Christ of
That's according to an Latter-day Saints is a Utah-
analysis of 1,528 Mormon based faith that counts 6.6
voters based on data from million members in the Unit-
VoteCast, a survey of more ed States.
than 115,000 voters nation- According to VoteCast, a
wide conducted for The majority of Mormons said
Associated Press by NORC Trump does not have the
at the University of Chica- right temperament to serve
go. The data offers an un- effectively as president (58
usual level of detail about percent), while just about 4
the voting decisions of a in 10 (42 percent) said he
sometimes misunderstood does. Forty-six percent of
religion. Mormons said the president
Among Mormon voters in is honest and trustworthy.q
Utah, 76 percent preferred