This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

With GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence headed to Utah later this week for public events and a private fundraiser, seven prominent Republicans signed a joint letter Tuesday encouraging voters in the state to rally behind the ticket led by Donald Trump.

Rep. Mia Love's name wasn't on that list.

The first-term Utah congresswoman hasn't said how she will vote in November and is clearly struggling with the options available to her.

She has ruled out Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, saying her policy differences are just too great. As to the anti-Trump conservative Evan McMullin, she said: "I don't even know who he is and he lives in our state." (McMullin is a Utah native and has his campaign headquarters here, but he lives in Washington, D.C.)

Essentially, that leaves Trump and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. Love says: "I haven't closed the door" on either of the two.

Love gave her most detailed thoughts to date on the tumultuous presidential contest during a wide-ranging discussion Tuesday with The Salt Lake Tribune's editorial board, and she didn't hide her frustrations with Trump.

"The reason we are in this situation is that we are OK with subpar," she said. "You think of the two people that are going to be the leader of the free world — we should expect more, and I am expecting more before I make any decisions."

She's talked to both the Trump and Johnson campaigns asking questions about how they would work to reduce regulations on businesses, manage difficult foreign policy situations and empower states. She considers the few answers she has received to be vague.

"Here I am, a member of Congress," she said. "And I still don't have these answers from someone who is going to be a presidential candidate. That to me is unbelievable."

She called the situation "incredibly difficult."

"There's an expectation to go out and support the Republican nominee. I feel like I'm doing a disservice to my district if I cannot give them a reason why and I think it would be irresponsible for me to do that without having those answers," she said. "I believe wholeheartedly that I am representing the people that have put me in the position to represent them by not blindly following somebody who may put us in a situation that is difficult."

Love said her support is based on issues. She brushed off questions about Trump's personality, campaign style and poll numbers showing his low support among women and black Americans.

Trump has struggled among Utahns broadly, though he holds a lead over the other candidates, according to a survey from earlier this month conducted by Public Policy Polling. He was favored by 39 percent to Clinton's 24, Johnson's 12 and McMullin's 9 percent.

Still, Trump has the backing of most of the state's Republican elite.

Sen. Orrin Hatch and Love's three House colleagues from Utah — Reps. Rob Bishop, Jason Chaffetz and Chris Stewart — signed the letter Tuesday. As did Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and the top two legislative leaders, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, and House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper.

"We believe that the policies Donald Trump and Mike Pence have put forward reflect the goals of the overwhelming majority of Utahns," their joint letter reads. "By contrast, Hillary Clinton's long record and current agenda put her at odds with the values of Utah citizens and our public policy objectives."

They argue Trump would pick more conservative Supreme Court nominees, fight against gun-control legislation, keep taxes low and bolster the national defense.

Love isn't the only big-name Utah Republican to keep Trump at arm's length. Freshman Sen. Mike Lee didn't sign the letter and hasn't endorsed Trump either, having similarly said he's found the candidate's policy proposals to be lacking.

Pence is appearing at a "Solutions Summit" Lee is sponsoring in Salt Lake City on Thursday.

The senator isn't expected to give an endorsement at that event.

Gov. Gary Herbert, who has said he plans to vote for Trump in large part because of Pence's inclusion on the ticket, also didn't sign the letter. His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Twitter: @mattcanham