Why is Cheney so far behind? Most coverage of her predicament has focused on her starring role with the Jan. 6 committee, and especially on her vow to make sure that, one way or another, former President Donald Trump will not be the Republican nominee for president in 2024. Trump, of course, is popular in Wyoming. He won the state in 2016 with 68.2% of the vote to Hillary Clinton's 21.9%. In 2020, Trump won with 69.9% to Joe Biden's 26.6%.
So, it is no surprise that Cheney's Ahab-like fixation on getting Trump is unpopular in a state where so many voters have a favorable view of the former president. The
Casper Star-Tribune poll fleshed that out with three questions related to Cheney's work on the Jan. 6 committee.
One question was: "Do you approve of Liz Cheney's decision to serve on the January 6 committee?" Sixty-three percent of voters likely to participate in the primary said no, versus just 29% who said yes. Another question was: "Has Liz Cheney's opposition to Trump affected her ability to deal with the important Wyoming issues?" Sixty-one percent said yes, while 34% said no. And finally: "Has Liz Cheney's performance on the January 6 committee made you more or less likely to vote for her?" Fifty-four percent said less likely, while 22% said more likely and 24% said it had no effect at all.
