Of course Mormons make Utah conservative! Just as Southern Baptists and other Evangelists make the South conservative!
If a predominantly conservative group of people makes up half an area’s population, then they are making that area more conservative. It’s math.
How is it that we are talking past each other on this?
The simple fact of the matter is that Mormonism embraces and nourishes the principles of Conservatism, just like any other Christian group does.
By your reasoning then Baptists would also make Utah more conservative.
I’d depend rather more on the Baptists. They don’t go around spouting if we don’t support their candidate, then they’re leaving and taking home their ball.
This ‘threat’ that if we don’t support Romney, the Mormons will abandon conservativism is very disturbing.