Was there a sore loser effect on the 2008 Utah results

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Utah was the most Republican state in the country in 2000, 2004, and 2012, but 2 other states were more Republican than it in 2008. Was this specifically because people were upset that Romney was not the nominee, just like how in Arkansas on the other end, people were upset that Clinton was not the nominee.

[Sumner 1868]

Maybe slightly, but the GOP lost ground everywhere but the most racist areas that year. The Salt Lake metro also was hit hard by the housing bubble.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Utah is a state with many young voters, and is also relatively highly educated.  Obama in 2008 appealed to these kinds of voters. I don't see any reason to think there was any particular dislike or animosity to McCain/Palin. If Hillary had been the nominee a swing to the Democrats would still be there given the national environment but it would have been smaller.

[wnwnwn]

It was thanks to Obama gains in SLC, WY small swing to the dems and OK swing to the GOP (bye Blue Dogs).

[Mr. Smith]

Utah is a state with many young voters, and is also relatively highly educated.  Obama in 2008 appealed to these kinds of voters. I don't see any reason to think there was any particular dislike or animosity to McCain/Palin. If Hillary had been the nominee a swing to the Democrats would still be there given the national environment but it would have been smaller.

Not at all.

Hillary is forever linked to Bill and his scandals, and there wasn't any reason for cognitive dissonance yet in regards to their disdain. Ergo, she'd likely do worse than Kerry just for that reason. I'd expect Utah County to be Madison County, ID...and that ought be enough to stop any gains in SLC.

Obama was tailor-made to appeal there in a way no other Democrat could, even before the bubble.  Not the Coastal Elitists like Kerry or Dukakis, not the environmentalists like Gore. Not to mention a pseudo- pass go, out of jail free card just by being a minority to placate any guilt regarding pre-1978.