Sen. Mitt Romney losing support? One expert says not so fast
Jun 12, 2023, 9:30 PM | Updated: Jun 13, 2023, 7:52 am
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, will not run for reelection. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
SALT LAKE CITY — Some are doubting the results of a new Deseret News-Hinckley Institute of Politics Poll that shows Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah losing support in Utah.
The poll shows Romney’s approval rating is down 11 points since March, with 49% of Utah voters saying they disapprove of his job performance and 41% saying they approve. Additionally, 10% are unsure how he is performing in his job.
Taylor Morgan, co-host of KSL at Night, downplays the poll.
“I do not believe this poll for a minute,” Morgan said. “There is no chance that Senator Mitt Romney has suddenly lost 11 points in his approval rating.”
Morgan does acknowledge that Romney may have lost a little bit of ground over frustrations with Congress on the debt ceiling situation.
“Mitt Romney is an equal opportunity offender,” Morgan said. “Just as many Democrats are upset with (him) now, or, more upset with him than conservatives. Mitt Romney has always played to the center. He has crossed both his party and Democrats,” Morgan said.
“And look, when you’re making both parties mad, I think you’re probably doing something right.”
Caplan asks if these numbers will impact Romney’s decision to seek reelection in 2024.
“I don’t think so. Not at all,” Morgan said. “Approval numbers are very, very different from re-elect numbers.”
Morgan said that Romney probably won’t announce his intentions until later this summer or into the fall. He notes that when Romney officially announced he was running for the Senate, he didn’t do it until February of the election year.
Ultimately, Morgan says it may come down to former President Donald Trump’s situation. He says if the former president can avoid any charges or convictions, Romney may decide to seek reelection to counter a potential second Trump presidency.
He says if former President Trump is convicted and is imprisoned, Romney may decide to retire.
Listen to the entire segment.
Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News can be heard on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.
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