This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The FBI director's 'never mind' moment shook up the presidential race. Democrats have the edge in early voting in Utah. Trump still leading in latest polls in the Beehive State.
Happy Monday. It's hard to see how James Comey could have handled this last nine days any worse, writes The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza after the FBI director initially announced the bureau was reviewing more Hillary Clinton emails only to come back Sunday and essentially say, 'Well, never mind, it's all good.' The bureau says after the latest review, which shook up the presidential race with less than two weeks before voters go to the polls, it stands by the July determination that Clinton's actions were reckless but not criminal. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/06/james-comey-totally-botched-the-last-10-days-of-the-2016-election/">WaPost</a>] More national coverage: [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/07/us/politics/hilary-clinton-male-voters-donald-trump.html?ref=politics&_r=0"; target="_blank">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/fbi-director-comey-says-agency-stands-by-decision-to-not-pursue-case-against-clinton-230842"; target="_blank">Politico</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/9-days-after-roiling-campaign-fbi-says-it-wont-seek-charges-against-clinton/2016/11/06/6f0f5d5c-a468-11e6-8fc0-7be8f848c492_story.html"; target="_blank">WaPost</a>].
-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz, meanwhile, says if Clinton is elected, he and other congressional chairs will continue investigating her for the emails and other scandals to "get to the truth." [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4552048-155/fbi-director-says-no-charges-in"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
<strong>Topping the news:</strong> Early voting in Utah has Democrats with an advantage, but the state is bracing for a jam-packed Election Day at the polls, where the number of GOP votes will presumably catch up to the minority party. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4548510-155/utah-dems-hold-edge-in-early?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Three Friday polls show Donald Trump with a modest lead in Utah, hovering around 6 points ahead of Clinton and Evan McMullin. Polling officials say millennial turnout will determine whether McMullin can scrape out 2nd place. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4546744-155/three-new-polls-show-trump-with?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/11/04/donald-trump-leads-in-another-utah-poll-mcmullin-second/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/another-new-poll-shows-trump-ahead-in-utah-but-mcmullin-not-far-behind"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>]
-> So will Utah's six electoral votes matter on Tuesday? There are several scenarios where either Trump or Clinton would need to win Utah to win the presidency — and where a McMullin victory in Utah could toss the election to the House. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4549164-155/analysis-how-utah-for-the-first"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
<strong>Tweets of the weekend: </strong>From @<a href="https://twitter.com/RalstonReports"; target="_blank">RalstonReports</a>: "They just extended voting hours at a Mexican supermarket to 10 PM. Close to 1,000 voters in line. If you have a panic button GOP, find it."
From @<a href="https://twitter.com/JuddLegum"; target="_blank">JuddLegum</a>: "Trump started his campaign calling Mexicans rapists and ended attacking Beyonce. The middle wasn't great either."
From @<a href="https://twitter.com/pkcapitol"; target="_blank">pkcapitol</a>: "I eagerly await statements for Harry Reid & other Dems testifying to Comey's amazing character/integrity, as Rs return to reviling him."
From @<a href="https://twitter.com/joshgondelman"; target="_blank">joshgondelman</a>: "This election makes me envy the quiet dignity with which the dinosaurs went extinct by meteor."
<strong>Happy Birthday: </strong>to West Valley City Mayor Ron Bigelow and state Sen. Howard Stephenson and Libertas Institute President Connor Boyack.
<strong>Opinion section: </strong>George Chapman, former candidate for Salt Lake City mayor, says that big spending on markets, arts and parks can't help the city without first spending on more jail beds and expanded health care. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4536100-155/op-ed-if-rio-grande-cafe-owner"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> William C. Duncan, director of Sutherland Institute's Center for Family Society, and Derek Monson, director of public policy at the Sutherland Institute, emphasize Salt Lake City's opportunity to open up conversations between religious traditionalists and LGBT advocates as it approaches a public accommodations law. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4533213-155/op-ed-slc-public-accommodation-policy-should-build"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> John W. Mackay, Paul C. Burke and Brett L. Tolman, who represented equality groups to help bring down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act at the Supreme Court, urge a change in Utah's public school laws that ban positive talk about homosexuality so that teachers can give vulnerable LGBT teens much-needed support. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4533227-155/op-ed-its-ok-to-be-gay"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Evelyn Everton, Utah director of Americans for Prosperity, opines that Utah lawmakers should stop giving out tax benefits to big corporations before they solicit residents for more income taxes to fund education. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4533206-155/op-ed-fund-utah-schools-by-ending"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Michael Shea, a policy associate at HEAL Utah, reminds readers of the number left out of the solar energy pricing debate: the money all of society saves when solar eliminates the cost of things like defending coastal cities from rising oceans and treating health problems sparked by bad air quality. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4533194-155/op-ed-rooftop-solars-worth-dont-forget"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> State Sen. Brian Shiozawa pitches the fiscal sensibility of Medicaid expansion in Utah and the ripple effects it would have on the state's homelessness, drug abuse and incarceration problems. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4546293-155/op-ed-medicaid-expansion-makes-more-sense"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Stephanie Quinn, an Education, Culture and Society master's student at the University of Utah, uses the recent celebration of Columbus Day to highlight the death of a bill to change the holiday to Indigenous Peoples Day, Rep. Rob Bishop's legislation to take away tribal land and the lack of Native American culture taught in public schools. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4542641-155/op-ed-elevate-native-american-history-to"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Michael J. Petrilli and Brandon L. Wright, president and editorial director of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, pressure Utah policymakers to use the freedom the Every Student Succeeds Act gives them to rate schools primarily by individual student growth and award schools extra credit for high achieving students. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4536087-155/op-ed-measure-schools-success-with-both"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Maryann Martindale, consultant to the Catherine Kanter campaign for Salt Lake County Council, points out the pitfalls of polls and tells voters not to let a seemingly certain election fate stop them from voting. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4536873-155/op-ed-polls-have-been-wrong-so"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Tribune editorial writer George Pyle frames the presidential election in terms of how each candidate caters to the electorate and what that says about what kind of America they see the people yearning for. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4547185-155/george-pyle-in-this-election-even"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Paul Rolly tells of a lonely Utah Republican Party election night victory party with most of the state's top Republicans slated to scatter to events of their own. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4545113-155/rolly-it-might-get-lonely-at"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] Then, he notes state Sen. Scott Jenkins might be taking out a personal grudge with regard to state Judge Su Chon. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4518571-155/paul-rolly-senators-tirade-against-judge?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Pat Bagley sketches his rendition of top Republicans doing the same things they want Hillary Clinton prosecuted for. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/bagley/4547024-155/bagley-cartoon-ratfinked"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Michel L. Call, founder of the Mormon Pioneer Genealogy Library and former BYU president of the Young Americans for Freedom, asserts his belief that the election of Clinton would bring a full-on assault on religious freedom in the name of non-discrimination. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666394/My-view-A-danger-to-religious-freedom.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Grassroots activist Ken Hoagland pitches Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn as the only principled candidates who will stand for disappearing American ethics this presidential election. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666393/My-view-A-principled-vote-is-possible-this-election.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Greg Bell, former Utah lieutenant governor and now president and CEO of the Utah Hospital Association, laments the lack of basic morals in both presidential candidates while praising past presidents and local government and religious leaders who, regardless of politics, represent true greatness. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666391/Where-are-the-heroes-and-heroines-we-need.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Luke Garrott, a political science lecturer at the University of Utah and former councilman and mayoral candidate in Salt Lake City, warns that if the GOP turns its back on Trump in favor of Paul Ryan after the election, it will be endorsing an economic plan that steals from the poor and gives to the rich. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666390/My-view-GOP-shouldnt-turn-to-Paul-Ryan.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Libertarian vice presidential candidate Bill Weld makes his appeal to Utah voters by showing his record of cutting taxes as Massachusetts governor, pointing out his relationship with Mitt Romney and denouncing Trump's morals. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666418/Exclusive-Bill-Weld-Cast-your-ballot-for-experience-you-can-believe-in-and-trust.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Doug Wilks, managing editor of the News Divison at the Deseret News and KSL, talks about the ethics behind reporting on a smear campaign like last week's white nationalist anti-McMullin robocall. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666442/Inside-the-newsroom-The-perils-of-reporting-on-a-smear-campaign.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Lincoln Davies, a University of Utah law professor and former board chair of Utah Interfaith Power & Light, argues that the characteristics and policies of Trump fit perfectly into the warnings about future anti-Christs in Christian scripture. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666548/My-view-Donald-Trump7s-anti-Christian-worldview.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> William M. Hains, a Salt Lake City attorney and Republican campaigner, reasserts James Madison's idea that only the incentive of the peoples' vote can keep politicians accountable, and disaffected Republicans voting for Trump undermines that principle. Instead, he suggests a vote for McMullin. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666529/My-view-The-power-of-a-McMullin-vote.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Cindi Merrell, a wife, mom and English teacher, condemns the herd mentality showcased in politics and reviews the many angles from which Americans can cast informed votes. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666528/My-view-Still-time-to-dismiss-the-herd-mentality-and-cast-educated-votes.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Dr. Grant E. "Gene" Secrist, a senior research scientist and retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, weighs in on the seriousness of Clinton's shortcomings compared to Trump's, concluding that only Trump gives the country a chance. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666526/My-view-Voting-for-the-element-of-chance.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Republican LaVarr Webb and Democrat Frank Pignanelli devote this week's column to election predictions, the pros and cons that came from the 2016 race, what will go down post-election and how to unwind from the stress of it all. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666523/Final-thoughts-about-an-astonishing-election.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
 
<strong>Weekend in review:</strong> State elections officials are baffled and worried at how few mail-in ballots they have received so far compared to the swaths of new registrants and urge Utah voters to send in their ballots so they don't overwhelm the few polling stations on Election Day. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4546693-155/election-officials-urge-utahns-to-get"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/election-officials-anticipate-busy-polling-day#stream/0"; target="_blank">KUER</a>]
-> Anne Holton, the wife of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine, told Utahns on Friday she was proud of them for fighting against divisiveness and bringing Hillary Clinton into the game in a red state. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4546633-155/utah-dems-urged-to-vote-as"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666472/Anne-Holton-wife-of-VP-nominee-Kaine-campaigns-for-Clinton-in-Utah.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/2news-sits-down-with-vp-nominee-tim-kaines-wife"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>]
-> Robert Gehrke dives deeper into why Mike Weinholtz, the Democratic candidate for governor, believes in medical marijuana for Utah. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4547146-155/weinholtz-support-for-medical-marijuana-bolstered?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Bryan Schott takes a look at the eight questions about the election, including whether Utah will really matter all that much. [<a href="http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/11365-">UtahPolicy</a>]
-> A plurality of Utahns want Merrick Garland confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court while some 30 percent say he should never be a sitting justice. [<a href="http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/11366-">UtahPolicy</a>]
-> Provo Rep. Norm Thurston drafts a bill to put the future of daylight savings in Utah on the ballot. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4541448-155/lawmaker-wants-utahns-to-vote-on"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/legislator-will-try-yet-again-to-do-away-with-daylight-saving-time"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/proposed-bill-would-let-voters-decide-whether-end-daylight-saving-time#stream/0"; target="_blank">KUER</a>]
-> Utah's I-15 and I-80 will soon sport signs that guide alternative-fuel cars to charging stations and propane and natural gas stops. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4545397-155/sign-of-times-alternative-fuel-locator"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/i-15-in-utah-made-part-of-alternative-fuel-charging-network"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>]
-> The Utah Board of Education on Friday ended its quest to alter high school athlete transfer rules when the board gave preliminary approval to a policy that restricts varsity athletes from transferring schools unless due to a death, divorce or family move. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4545520-155/utah-school-board-loosens-athlete-transfer?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666494/Some-high-school-athletes-would-find-transferring-easier-under-proposed-rule-changes.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> A Salt Lake Tribune poll shows that nearly 80 percent of active Mormons back the church's policy that labels gays apostates and prohibits their children from official membership until age 18, and as church-activity goes down, so does support. Jennifer Dobner profiles four Mormons the policy touched. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/4541799-155/year-later-support-for-mormon-gay"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/faith/lds-same-sex-marriage-and-children-policy-still-topic-of/article_1e690fc2-a24c-5ce8-be10-b1a442f0ff6e.html"; target="_blank">Herald</a>]
-> The Park City teen charged with distributing the synthetic opioid "pink" that was fatal to two 13-year-olds in September will be tried in juvenile court. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4545902-155/case-of-utah-teen-charged-in"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666465/Teen-charged-in-pink-deaths-calls-into-hearing-from-treatment-center.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Utah saved more than it spent on a site for the new state prison by applying for a permit to build on wetlands. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4546085-155/state-saves-millions-on-prison-land"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666438/Land-purchase-for-new-state-prison-finalized-for-124-million.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/11/04/utah-spends-12-4-million-for-323-acres-to-build-new-state-prison/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-pays-12m-for-land-near-airport-for-new-state-prison"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/state-purchases-property-new-prison#stream/0"; target="_blank">KUER</a>]
-> The South Salt Lake Planning Commission has delayed a vote on its recommendations for a new development plan on the old Granite High School property. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4546743-155/south-salt-lake-planning-commission-delays"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Volunteers came together last week to give dental care to about 100 refugees, many of whom had never seen a dentist. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4549225-155/volunteers-provide-dental-care-to-refugees"; target="_blank">APviaTrib</a>]
-> A Tribune poll shows most Utahns in support of keeping polygamy a crime, with millennials especially gung-ho. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4533164-155/utahns-oppose-decriminalizing-polygamy-with-millennials"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> The armed Oregonians who took over a federal wildlife refuge represent a wider group, including some elected officials in western states, that believes the federal government should transfer control of land back to the states. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4549646-155/oregon-standoff-members-beliefs-also-in"; target="_blank">BendBulletinviaTrib</a>]
-> LGBT students at Brigham Young University and BYU-Idaho open up about what it's like living amidst a sometimes insensitive culture and under the school's Honor Code, which prohibits any display of homosexual affection. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4480843-155/lgbt-at-mormon-universities-tell-of"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Joe Hunt, an executive of a Utah air-ambulance company, has spent $6.4 million on behalf of Lyman Family Farm, Inc. to buy half of all the land trust wilderness parcels auctioned off since 2014 with no explanation why. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4536249-155/family-farm-has-spent-millions-buying"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
<strong>Nationally:</strong> Early voting data from several swing states show record numbers of Latino votes. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/latino-vote-surge-donald-trump-campaign-230804"; target="_blank">Politico</a>] [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/04/politics/latinos-voter-turnout-early-voting-2016-election/index.html"; target="_blank">CNN</a>] [<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-election-day/high-latino-early-voting-turnout-being-seen-some-states-n678516"; target="_blank">NBCNews</a>]
-> The Trump campaign calls out the Clinton campaign for the language in a Friday night Jay Z campaign concert put on for Clinton supporters. [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/05/politics/donald-trump-jay-z-beyonce-hillary-clinton/index.html"; target="_blank">CNN</a>] [<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/304595-trump-blasts-beyonce-jay-z-for-filthy-language-at-clinton"; target="_blank">Hill</a>] [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/05/us/politics/jay-z-beyonce-clinton-voters.html"; target="_blank">NYTimes</a>]
-> The Washington Post looks at the 15 states — including Utah — where the presidential election might hinge on Tuesday. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/fifteen-states-that-will-decide-the-election/2016/11/05/13475c90-a13e-11e6-8832-23a007c77bb4_story.html">WaPost</a>]
<strong>Where are they?</strong>
<ul>
<li>Gov. Gary <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GovHerbert"; target="_blank">Herbert</a></strong> campaigns in Salt Lake City in the morning before catching up with his office staff in the afternoon.</li>
<li>Lt. Gov. Spencer <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox"; target="_blank">Cox</a></strong> hits a College Application Month event at Kearns High School and sits down for a strategy meeting.</li>
<li>State Auditor John <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/FrugalDougall"; target="_blank">Dougall</a> </strong>chats over breakfast with Utah County Commissioner Bill Lee, attends a funeral and spends the rest of the day in the office.</li>
<li>President Barack <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama"; target="_blank">Obama</a> </strong>stumps for Hillary Clinton in Ann Arbor, Mich., Durham, N.H., and Philadelphia.</li>
</ul>
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— Thomas Burr and Zoe Woolf McGinn
<a title="Thomas Burr" href="https://twitter.com/thomaswburr"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/zoewmcginn"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/zoewmcginn</a>