Trump’s appeals to Utah voters in Deseret News op-ed

Last week, Hillary Clinton took to the Deseret News op-ed page to make her pitch to disaffected conservatives in the Beehive State. Today, Republican nominee Donald Trump followed suit.

Trump’s piece, probably written by a very junior staffer, is unremarkable. But he does manage to make some contrasts that should be salient in heavily Mormon and overwhelmingly conservative Utah.

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have tried to undermine our religious liberties on the altar of political correctness. 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.

More:

I oppose government interference with all Americans’ rights to freedom of religion and speech, which are guaranteed by the First Amendment in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights. I will appoint U.S. Supreme Court justices who respect the right of all Americans to practice their religion not just in the privacy of their homes, but in the public square, in their professions and in the conduct of their businesses.

Trump also trumpets his pro-life position (however weakly or insincerely held) and promises not to interfere with state and local control.

Alluding to his occasional coarseness, Trump confesses, “A lot of things are said in political campaigns.” But he promises to be honest (from here on out, presumably?)

As wary Utahns decide whether to believe Trump’s promises, they can also consider Independent candidate Evan McMullin, who qualified for the Utah presidential ballot today.