That reality, plus Donald Trump’s continued loathsomeness, opens up an opportunity for conservative independent Evan McMullin. He got a break this week when Trump stupidly attacked him. Declaring that McMullin (a Mormon) is going from “coffee shop to coffee shop” in mainly Mormon Utah, Trump was unintentionally hilarious. Even aside from Mormons’ aversion to caffeine, Trump doesn’t seem to understand that retail politics is a positive thing. McMullin is showing people in a close religious community that he cares about them and will devote time to them. Trump’s whining boiled down to: “McMullin is going from voter to voter listening to their problems!” Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence stupidly insisted that “nobody’s heard of him.” Well, Trump and Pence lashing out gave him more valuable free media to make his case.

McMullin seized the chance to blast Trump-Pence on Twitter: “Yes you’ve never heard of me because while you were harassing women at beauty pageants, I was fighting terrorists abroad.” He went on to tell Trump that he’s an “authoritarian, life-long liberal who disrespects life, liberty, & equality.” He added, “We can’t trust you on justices.”

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On Meet the Press on Sunday, McMullin used his time to boost his name recognition, give out his website and tell voters: “We’re on the ballot . . . in 11 states. We’re registered as a write-in in a number of others, bringing the total number of states that we have ballot access to 43.”

He was candid that he’s interested in helping lead a major shakeup on the right. “I’m not sure I want to remake the Republican Party. I think we need a new conservative movement in this country that rededicates itself to the cause of liberty and to equality, the, the truth that all men and women are created equal,” he said. “That’s what this country needs. That’s the kind of leadership it needs. The Republican Party has drifted away both from the cause of individual liberty and equality. And so we need something new.”

Like many on the right he’s not certain that can be done within the confines of the current GOP. He reeled off a list of reasons he — and other Republicans — cannot support Trump:

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On the fiscal side, sure, he wants to expand the size of government, he wants to lower taxes, which is great. But he also wants to increase spending, so that’s a problem. This is a man who has unhealthy relationships and admiration for dictators overseas. I believe that he has some of the same ideas about leadership or domination that they do. I think he’s dishonest with the American people. Where are his tax returns? We don’t know much about Donald Trump. . . . I think he’s somebody who doesn’t understand the Constitution. I think he’s somebody who doesn’t respect the separation of powers. This is somebody who would be very dangerous to our country.

McMullin can surely capitalize on voter dismay over both candidates, and further emphasize the jaw-dropping lapse in the GOP’s judgment in nominating Trump. With the newest email flap involving Clinton, Republicans are once again gnashing their teeth. Any other Republican could be winning this. That frustration may translate into some protest votes, or depressed turnout for Trump.

In most recent Utah polling McMullin is ahead or within the margin of error. (Trump’s nasty comments will make some news in the state, thereby giving McMullin a boost in the campaign’s final week.) McMullin may be helped by further reporting that confirms Trump lied for years about his philanthropy. “A months-long investigation by The Washington Post has not been able to verify many of Trump’s boasts about his philanthropy,” David A. Fahrenthold reports. “Instead, throughout his life in the spotlight, whether as a businessman, television star or presidential candidate, The Post found that Trump had sought credit for charity he had not given — or had claimed other people’s giving as his own.” His biggest gift — $1 million to veterans groups — was paid out only after The Post pressed for evidence of the donation. “After calling 420-plus charities with some connection to Trump, The Post found only one personal gift from Trump between 2008 and the spring of this year.” That will not sit well with community-minded Utahans.

Beyond Utah, McMullin’s campaign also sees prospects in other Mountain West states, especially Idaho, where he has drawn big crowds. He’s also on the ballot in some states where he could deprive Trump of valuable votes (Virginia, Iowa and Colorado).