More than two-thirds of Utahns believe GOP President Donald Trump paid off a porn star just before the 2016 election to keep her quite about an alleged affair, a new UtahPolicy.com poll shows.
The fact that UtahPolicy even asks pollster Dan Jones & Associates to sample such an outrageous topic shows how very odd U.S. politics is today.
Yet Jones finds:
- 65 percent of Utahns “strongly believe” or “somewhat believe” that Trump paid adult film star Stormy Daniels hush money back in the fall of 2016 – just before Trump won the Electoral College vote and became president.
- Only 15 percent of Utahns don’t believe Trump paid the porn star.
- And 20 percent don’t know if he did or not.
In a strange set of TV appearances on May 3, Trump’s new attorney, former GOP New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, said Trump did reimburse his former lawyer/fixer Michael Cohen money – about $130,000 — to pay Daniels, who claims she had a brief affair with Trump a decade ago.
Cohen is being investigated by New York federal officials for a number of shady dealings.
There are only two demographic groups in Utah who are split on the Trump/Daniels question: Republicans and those who are “very conservative” politically.
Jones finds:
- 44 percent of Republicans say Trump did pay the porn actress.
- 26 percent say he did not.
- And 30 percent don’t know.
Among those who self-described themselves to Jones that they are “very conservative:”
- 37 percent said Trump paid the woman.
- 34 percent said he didn’t.
- And 29 percent don’t know.
All other groups of Utahns, by majority numbers, say Trump paid Daniels:
- Democrats are not in doubt: 96-1 percent say he did pay her, 3 percent don’t
- 80 percent of political independents say he did, 7 percent say he didn’t, and 12 percent don’t
- Those who say they are “somewhat conservative,” 53 percent say he paid her, 18 percent said no, he didn’t, and 28 percent don’t
- Moderates say Trump paid the woman, 72-9 percent, with 19 percent don’t.
- Those who are “somewhat liberal” say he paid her, 95-2 percent with 3 percent don’t know.
- And 95 percent of the “very liberals” say he paid her, 2 percent said he didn’t and 2 percent don’t know.
Mormons overall support Trump, but here is an interesting number:
- Mormons who say they are “very active” in their faith – or pay tithing and have temple recommends – 54 percent agree Trump paid the porn star, 20 percent say he didn’t, and 25 percent (or one fourth) don’t
- 74 percent of “somewhat active” Mormons, or three out of four, say he paid Daniels, 10 percent say he didn’t, and 16 percent don’t
- Those who say they used to belong to the LDS faith, but no longer do, 68 percent say Trump paid the porn star to keep quiet, 17 percent said he didn’t, and 15 percent don’t know.
- Catholics believe he did, 79-19 percent, with 3 percent don’t know.
- Protestants say he paid her, 61-17 percent, with 22 percent in doubt.
- Those of other religions, 81 percent say he paid her, 4 percent say he did not, and 14 percent don’t know.
- Those who said they have no religion, 83 percent say Trump paid Daniels, 7 percent say he did not, and 10 percent don’t know.
In the closest congressional race this year – where Rep. Mia Love is being challenged by Democratic Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams – it is unlikely Love will want Trump to campaign for her.
There are a number of reasons for that. But here’s another one:
- Among 4th District voters, 71 percent believe Trump paid Daniels to keep her quiet, 11 percent say he did not, and 17 percent don’t know.
Love standing next to Trump when 71 percent believe he cheated on his wife with a porn star and then paid her $130,000 to keep her quiet?
Nope, not a good picture for voters to see.
Jones polled 615 adults from May 15-25. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
