What if Rick Perry insults Mormons?

[mondale84]

If Perry wins the nomination and at some point in the campaign says something to the effect of "Mormons aren't Christians," or "LDS is a cult," what would happen to Utah? I certainly wouldn't put it past Perry to say something like that.

[Sam Spade]

This result, of course...

Quote from: pbrower2a
The GOP had better nominate Mitt Romney, or the Beehive State might be shaky for a Republican nominee.

[King]

It might become close if it really become publicized.  Not to make fun of pbrower, but Sarah Palin was tied with Obama in a Utah poll and IMO that has a ton to do with her anti-intellectualism.  Unlike a place like Alabama, the Mormon Republicans of Utah put a high value on education.  If Perry acts similarly, then he could lose a lot of support.  Not enough to make it Democrat, probably, but closer.

I doubt it.

[Joe Biden 2020]

He wouldn't lose Utah, though it would get closer, but Nevada would be lost and Arizona could be lost, if not really close.  Remember, Mormons are a good portion of the population in those two states, as well.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

What if Obama says white people are the devil? How would the election turn out then?

[pbrower2a]

This result, of course...

Quote from: pbrower2a
The GOP had better nominate Mitt Romney, or the Beehive State might be shaky for a Republican nominee.

This result, of course...

After I saw nominees other than Romney and Huntsman (like Michele Bachmann, who is not a Mormon) faring better than Obama, I changed my mind on that. That is not the last word. Just as a  Presidential nominee who castigates Asian-Americans would lose Hawaii, someone who castigates Mormons would lose Utah.  Such is only proper. It is best that politicians exude optimism about human character across the usual divides of ethnicity, sect, class, and region.

Boundary conditions matter. Callow insensitivity to religious and ethnic groups looks bad to people not in those groups.

[I Am Feeblepizza.]

What if Obama says white people are the devil? How would the election turn out then?

He won in 2008 despite his connection to a certain religious figure who seemed to believe just that.

As for the original question, I agree with previous posters -- Utah would be closer but still safely in the Perry column. Nevada and Arizona would be much closer, if not lost altogether.

[TheGlobalizer]

Utah would still vote GOP but with low turnout.