Obama Endorsed By Salt Lake Tribune: ‘Favorite Son’ Romney Can’t Be Trusted

The center of Mitt Romney‘s campaign, both personally and politically, has revolved around Utah. His remarkable handling of the 2002 Olympics has been touted as prove of his business acumen. And Salt Lake City, the hub of Mormonism and home of the Mormon church, has played a pivotal role in Romney’s religious growth as well.

That is why this has to hurt.

With the scathing indictment: “The president has earned a second term. Romney, in whatever guise, does not deserve a first,” the city’s largest newspaper endorses President Barack Obama for a second time over a “shape-shifting” Romney.

Read below for more on SLT’s editorial board’s decision:

Nowhere has Mitt Romney’s pursuit of the presidency been more warmly welcomed or closely followed than here in Utah. The Republican nominee’s political and religious pedigrees, his adeptly bipartisan governorship of a Democratic state, and his head for business and the bottom line all inspire admiration and hope in our largely Mormon, Republican, business-friendly state.

But it was Romney’s singular role in rescuing Utah’s organization of the 2002 Olympics from a cesspool of scandal, and his oversight of the most successful Winter Games on record, that make him the Beehive State’s favorite adopted son. After all, Romney managed to save the state from ignominy, turning the extravaganza into a showcase for the matchless landscapes, volunteerism and efficiency that told the world what is best and most beautiful about Utah and its people.