LDS remarks may actually aid Rocky

A day after Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson said some LDS City Council members made biased votes about Nordstrom relocation because of their religious affiliation, political insiders wondered if those comments would affect the mayor's chances for re-election.

The comments were seemingly controversial, especially for an incumbent mayor facing a tough re-election battle Nov. 4 against former House Minority Leader Frank Pignanelli.

But Anderson's own campaign consultant, Ted Wilson, a former Salt Lake City mayor and current lobbyist, suggested Anderson's comments may actually help the mayor's chances.

The comments probably energized Anderson's base — liberals who think The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has too much influence in Utah government — and gave Anderson some headlines, while keeping Pignanelli out of the spotlight, Wilson said.

"Rocky's getting in the press, energizing his base and staying visual," Wilson said.

Still, Wilson conceded Anderson's comments likely energized the opposition — conservative LDS voters — as well.

Pollster Dan Jones agrees Anderson is in danger of riling the LDS vote.

"If you really bring religion into it, you will get LDS people out to vote that haven't voted in the past," Jones said.

Traditionally, LDS voters — who make up about 47 percent of the city's registered voters — turn out to vote in good numbers. However, in Salt Lake City's mayoral race neither candidate is LDS and both are Democrats. Many LDS voters are traditionally Republican or lean to the right. With no real candidate representing their views,

some conservative voters might opt not to vote unless they are enraged, Jones said.

Jones' previous polling shows Anderson is getting about 20 percent of the LDS vote. Anderson needs that figure to remain stable if he is going to win, Jones said.

The big question, Jones said, is where Molonai Hola's votes will go. Hola gained 24 percent of the vote in the city's primary, while Anderson had 45 percent and Pignanelli had 30.

Hola, who is a Republican and LDS, decried Anderson's comments Thursday but said he won't decide whom to endorse until next week.

During a debate Wednesday, Pignanelli focused on Anderson's perceived divisiveness during the Main Street Plaza brouhaha last year.