Utah Republicans Abandon Trump

The Republican backlash to the crude Donald Trump comments that surfaced Friday has been strongest in Utah, where leading politicians were slow to endorse him and have been quick to abandon him. "I'm out. I'm pulling my endorsement," Rep. Jason Chaffetz tells the Salt Lake Tribune. "I cannot support in any way, shape, or form the comments or approach Donald Trump has taken. This is so over the top, it is not even acceptable in locker rooms. It shouldn't be acceptable anywhere. We are talking about the president of the United States. I want someone of high moral values."

Gov. Gary Herbert has also withdrawn his endorsement, saying he can't vote for Clinton but won't vote for Trump, while other top Utah Republicans, including Sen. Mike Lee and former Gov. Jon Huntsman, are calling for Trump to drop out of the race. The Huffington Post notes that Chaffetz and Herbert are the first elected Republicans to withdraw their support for Trump since the remarks surfaced—and Chaffetz's position as chair of the House Oversight Committee, which investigated Hillary Clinton's emails, makes his defection especially damaging. (Trump issued an apology late Friday night.)