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5 Takeaways From Independent Presidential Candidate Evan McMullin

In this Aug. 27, 2016, photo, independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin, participates in a staff meeting near Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer/AP)
In this Aug. 27, 2016, photo, independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin, participates in a staff meeting near Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer/AP)

We spoke with independent conservative presidential candidate Evan McMullin this Monday, and he offered a rather frank assessment of his chances in the November election, along with a few notable policy points where he might differ from the Republican Party's chosen candidate.  

McMullin Knows He's A Longshot When It Comes To The White House

McMullin, 40, is on 11 state ballots and is a registered write-in in 23 other states. His campaign hopes to appear on up to 40 or 45 ballots as a write-in or official candidate by Election Day. "If no candidate achieves a majority in the Electoral College, then the top three finishers in the race go the House," McMullin told us today. "This if very difficult to do, we know that, and we knew that before getting into the race. We think it's not possible for us to win 270 votes ourselves, but that's the best opportunity we have. It depends on how close the race is between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump — and right now, it isn't very close. I don't think it is likely to be close." Even while he acknowledges the unlikely path to victory, McMullin also pointed out his positive recent polling results in Utah and, in his words, "the Mountain West."

"In order to win Electoral College votes, you have to win a state. This is the reality — if you want to compete, you've got to win states, and I'm the only non-major party candidate coming close to doing that."

McMullin Is Strongly Pro-Life, And Would Appoint Originalist SCOTUS Justices

"I would like to see Roe v Wade overturned," McMullin told us. "I believe that how we treat life in this country is a true test of our humanity. I understand it's a very polarizing issue, but I think we've got to respect life in this country, from conception to natural death."

McMullin Would Likely Allow Same-Sex Marriage To Remain Legal

"I'm a Mormon, which means that I believe in traditional marriage," McMullin told us. "But I also believe that people ought to have the free will to make decisions by themselves."

McMullin Would Fight For The Trans-Pacific Partnership

"We've simply got to trade," McMullin said. "Ninety-five percent of the world's consumers live outside our borders, and our companies need to be able to sell to them. Trade creates many jobs — 12 million jobs in this country are supported by trade, but we can be better by helping people who are affected by job loss. I would not tear up NAFTA, and I would do my very best to get TPP done."

McMullin Believes In Human-Caused Climate Change

"I do believe that the climate is changing, and I do believe that human activity is contributing to it," McMullin told us. "If I were president, I would increase investment in technologies that can help us limit and decrease our carbon emissions."

Obviously, there are more issues than just these five at stake this November, and you can hear the entirety of our conversation with McMullin here

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