Mitt Romney speaks to reporters at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Romney held closed-door meetings with Utah lawmakers Tuesday as the former Republican presidential nominee continues his bid to become a U.S. Senator for Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Mitt Romney speaks to reporters at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Romney held closed-door meetings with Utah lawmakers Tuesday as the former Republican presidential nominee continues his bid to become a U.S. Senator for Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Mitt Romney did not ride a donkey.

But the one-time presidential nominee and now candidate for Senate did cheer enthusiastically at a donkey basketball game, campaigning on the ground in Utah like a homegrown hero — even though he grew up somewhere else. What he isn’t doing much is talking about President Trump.

In the first of our new podcast series, Ground Game, AP national political reporter Steve Peoples and Utah reporter Lindsay Whitehurst discuss how an ex-“Never Trumper” campaigns in the age of Trump. What does his evolution mean for Republicans still opposed to Trump?

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New episodes of “Ground Game” will come out on Thursdays. Host Magan Crane will speak with AP reporters around the country about what it coming up in American politics ahead of the midterm elections and beyond.