* Even though Huntsman has a direct bloodline to a much-beloved LDS Church leader, Romney is favored by Utah Mormons 59-20 percent. Some of that may be because many Utahns don’t know that Huntsman is Haight’s grandson, some could also be that Romney carried the LDS religion torch well in 2008 and Mormons thank him for that.
* Utah Republicans favor Romney 65-16 percent. Huntsman, while overall very well liked by Utahns, came out for some moderate stands after winning re-election in 2008. Huntsman had already said he wouldn’t seek a third term as governor, so he no longer had to worry about criticism from the Utah GOP right wing. And that likely angered some conservatives. Huntsman was especially slammed when at the end of the 2009 Legislature he supported several already-failed gay and lesbian rights bills.
* While Huntsman beats Romney 61-9 percent among Utah Democrats, Romney tops Huntsman among political independents 41-32 percent. Romney is still much liked in Utah outside of politics – he was brought in to save the scandal-ridden 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics and under his leadership the games were financially and athletically successful.
* Who knows exactly why this is, but Huntsman does 9 percentage points better among women against Romney than he does with men. Maybe women like his more moderate politics, maybe its that sly smile, the piano playing and motorcycle riding.
http://utahpolicy.com/featured_article/romney-huntsman-herbert-and-matheson-provide-2012-intrigue
