This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Mitt Romney's verbal assault on Donald Trump last week in Utah was unprecedented, with the Republican Party's 2012 nominee throwing body blow after body blow, claiming Trump was a poor businessman, an undisciplined politician, a misogynist and a bully.
But the widely viewed speech hasn't diminished Trump's support among Republican voters, according to a new poll by Morning Consult.
Specifically asked about Romney's remarks, 31 percent of respondents said it made them more likely to vote for Trump, 20 percent said it made them less likely and 43 percent said it didn't impact their view either way.
The poll of slightly more than 2,000 registered voters took place on March 4 through March 6, the days immediately after Romney addressed an auditorium of students at the University of Utah.
In less than 20 minutes, he ripped Trump's policies and temperament saying: "Here's what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud."
Trump responded by calling Romney a failed candidate who had begged for his endorsement in 2012. "I could have said, 'Mitt, drop to your knees.' He would have dropped to his knees."
In subsequent interviews, Romney said he wouldn't vote for Trump if he wins the GOP nomination and would instead vote for a write-in or third-party candidate.
And Romney recently recorded robocalls for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich encouraging voters to oppose Trump. An aide to Romney said he offered similar help to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
"He's been clear that he believes that Donald Trump is not the best person to represent the Republican Party and will do what he can to support a strong nominee who holds conservative values to win back the White House," the aide said.
But the Morning Consult poll shows that even Romney supporters weren't won over by his speech. Of those who identified themselves as Romney voters in 2012, 48 percent were unswayed by his speech, while 30 percent said it made them more likely to vote for Trump and 20 percent said they were less likely.
His speech seemed to have had a little more impact on liberal voters and women.
But tea party supporters and men said the speech encouraged them to vote for Trump. And not surprisingly, among people who said they were already Trump supporters, Romney's speech just strengthened their resolve.