McMullin says bigotry, racism, misogyny a problem in US

Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin may defeat Donald Trump in Utah, which because of his campaign has become a toss-up state. AP Photo, Rick Bowmer.

Salt Lake City (AP) — Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin says he won't wither under attacks by white supremacists backing Donald Trump.

McMullin said Wednesday at an event on the University of Utah in Salt Lake City that this campaign season has illustrated a lingering problem in the United States with bigotry, racism and misogyny.

He pointed to a Ku Klux Klan-affiliated newspaper this week running an editorial praising Trump, and a robo call placed in Utah against him by a white nationalist Trump supporter this week.

The Trump campaign denounced both. White nationalist William Johnson on Wednesday canceled the robo call, apologizing for a "mean-spirited message" that included calling McMullin a "closet homosexual."

Polls show McMullin is threatening to win enough conservative votes in Utah to defeat Trump and become the first non-Republican to win the state in nearly a half century.

By Brady McCombs, Associated Press. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.

The Gayly – November 2, 2016 @ 5:20 p.m.