This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Hillary Clinton bounced from one Democratic group to another during seven hours Tuesday on Capitol Hill and in all that time, she met with only one Republican: Rep. Mia Love.
That's because Love is the sole GOP member of the Congressional Black Caucus, an officially nonpartisan group that skews heavily to the left.
Before Clinton, the Democratic presidential front-runner, could address the caucus, one member jumped to his feet to remind everyone that Love was among those in attendance.
"I just kind of smiled," said Love, who as the first black Republican woman elected to Congress is used to being singled out. "I did have my notebook. It was very respectful, but I think it is good to have somebody there offering a different perspective. ... She may have been a little more guarded, I don't know."
The conversation stayed on public policy and didn't veer into presidential political tactics.
Caucus Chairman G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., invited a more senior member to ask Clinton a question. He then welcomed the most junior member, which happens to be Love, to do the same.
The Utahn asked Clinton about the newly announced nuclear deal with Iran. Love opposes the accord, which requires Tehran to reduce its nuclear capabilities in exchange for the easing of financial sanctions, believing that Iran, an enemy of the United States, will cheat. Clinton supports it, saying that doing nothing will make it even easier for Iran to get a nuke.
Clearly, Love, who was elected in 2014, is not a Clinton backer. And as she looks at the crowded Republican field, she sees a few people she believes would make a good president, among those she mentioned were Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who is the only black Republican candidate. She called Carson "a sweetheart and I think he is smart."
"I'm sure there are several others out there," she said. "The field is pretty wide."
Chances are, she'll have an opportunity to meet a number of them.