Most Republican state against GOP health law shutdown strategy

Utah is the reddest of the red states.

In 2012, it was the most pro-Romney, anti-Obama state. Romney won 73% and Obama 25%, with minor party candidates making up the difference.

Yet, even in Utah, it’s unpopular to shut down the government to defund the Affordable Care Act.

As a Utah paper reports:

A majority of Utahns don’t believe it was worth shutting down the federal government to fight President Barack Obama’s new health care law and most blame Republicans just as much as Democrats, according to a new Deseret News/KSL poll.

Dan Jones & Associates poll conducted for the Deseret News and KSL-TV of 410 Utahns conducted Oct. 3. Margin of error +/- 5%.

Politicians supporting the shutdown also suffer in the poll

Utah has two Republican Senators, Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee.

Sen. Lee has been out front with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, leading the strategy linking defunding the Affordable Care Act with funding the government. This strategy led to the shutdown.

Only 42% of Utahns approve of Senator Lee, compared to 55% who approve of Senator Hatch.

By the way, there is one Democrat in Utah’s congressional delegation, Congressman Jim Matheson. He voted for initial House bills that defunded the ACA but “now is backing a bipartisan push to pass a bill with funding for the law to stop the shutdown.”

57% of Utahns approve of the Democratic Matheson, higher than either of the Republican Senators, who were elected statewide in the most pro-Romney state in the nation.

Now, nationwide, larger numbers oppose the Tea Party-led strategy that’s led to the shutdown. About seven in ten Americans disapprove. But it’s really striking that only 37% of people approve of that strategy in the reddest of red states.

Amy Fried

About Amy Fried

Amy Fried loves Maine's sense of community and the wonderful mix of culture and outdoor recreation. She loves politics in three ways: as an analytical political scientist, a devoted political junkie and a citizen who believes politics matters for people's lives. Fried is Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine. Her views do not reflect those of her employer or any group to which she belongs.