Who knows exactly what this hack's "ulterior motives" are. All I know is you're working really hard to squeeze him into a box he probably occupies only out of expediency..
BTW, Utah is the most Republican State in the Union by far. I can't imagine what your motive must be for asserting the predominance, or even large presence of, "liberal Mormons". It just doesent play itself out in the real world.
You are correct. However Reid attended Southern Utah University (In Cedar City, Utah) and Utah State University, which in the sixties were both overwhelmingly LDS (Mormons), probably more so that BYU is today.