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Trump supporters claim Utah is ‘throwing away’ vote by backing Evan McMullin

Posted at 10:39 AM, Oct 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-20 20:07:43-04

LAS VEGAS -- Polling that shows Utah has moved from being a solid-red Republican state to a battleground has surprised many, and also prompted some Trump backers to accuse Utah voters of "throwing away" their votes on third-party candidate Evan McMullin.

One poll has McMullin leading Clinton and Trump in the Beehive State. Others have it a much narrower three-way race for Utah's six Electoral College votes.

"Utah?" Trump supporter and actor Scott Baio said in brief remarks to FOX 13 outside the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV on Tuesday.

He appeared surprised when told that Utah was now in play, but predicted the state would still vote GOP.

Actor and Trump supporter Scott Baio speaks to FOX 13's Ben Winslow. (Photo by Arron Healy, FOX 13 News)

Actor and Trump supporter Scott Baio speaks to FOX 13's Ben Winslow. (Photo by Arron Healy, FOX 13 News)

In brief remarks after the debate to FOX 13, former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer called it "unfortunate that third-party person got in there."

"I hope people will come to their senses and realize that he can't win the presidency no matter how great they think he is," she said of McMullin. "The race is between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and to throw your vote away like that is throwing away all your values. It's a shame that's taking place."

Don Peay, a Utah-based Trump supporter, attended Wednesday's debate and believed the Republican candidate won. He also said Utah should vote Trump.

"I know some people think it makes them proud to take a stand, but from a political and pragmatic standpoint it's stupid," he told reporters after the debate. "This makes us look sophomoric politically, from a national standpoint. And it makes it look like we're throwing away a vote."

In an interview with FOX 13, Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said that with Utah in play, more resources would be shifted to the state in an effort to win it for her.