Utah in 1928

[FDB]

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[Mr. Smith]

The state was within 8 points while Hoover won the NPV by 17 points. The LDS Hierarchy endorsed Smith, but I haven't found their reasoning.

My guess is the overly WASP-ey nature of Hoover's campaign did it. There might not have been much love for Catholics, but there was an understanding of where things could lead next if those sorts of attacks worked.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

It could seem like UT was one of Hoover's strongest states, given how lopsided that election was

[TDAS04]

Jews also swung in Smith’s direction.  There could have been some non-Protestant solidarity.