Utah Dems Pin Hopes on Matheson

By Matt Canham
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune

 Article Last Updated:11/10/2008 06:43:25 AM MST

   Utah Democrats made some minor inroads in last week's election, picking up a couple of state House seats and control of the Salt Lake County Council.
    But if they want to take the next step to becoming a vibrant and vocal minority in an overwhelmingly conservative state, they need a strong candidate to challenge for a statewide office, like governor, attorney general or maybe even the U.S. Senate, said David Magleby, a political scientist at Brigham Young University.
    Cue Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.
    Recent public opinion polls show Matheson, a conservative Democrat, is the most popular high-profile politician in the state - and he proved it again Tuesday.
    He won his fifth term in the 2nd Congressional District by his most lopsided margin yet, beating Republican newcomer Bill Dew, 63 percent to 35 percent. Since the congressional districts were redrawn in 2001, Matheson's margin of victory has grown each election even in a district that should be favorable to Republicans. It includes parts of Salt Lake and Utah counties and most of eastern and southern Utah.
    When comparing this week's race to his contest two years ago, Matheson performed better in every county, winning 13 out of 16. In 2006, he claimed only eight.
    "It was a magnificent improvement this go around," said Todd Taylor, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party. "We know they didn't choose him because he is a Democrat but in spite of it."
    And it is just that kind of crossover appeal that any Democrat would need to be taken seriously in a statewide campaign.
    If Matheson did want to run for statewide office he could challenge Sen. Bob Bennett in 2010 or wait until 2012 when he could run for an open governor's seat or the Senate seat now held by Orrin Hatch. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has said he will not run again, while Hatch hasn't announced his 2012 intentions.
    If Matheson does run for governor, he would be attempting to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was the last Democrat to hold the position. Scott Matheson served two terms from 1977 to 1985. Matheson's brother, Scott Jr., ran against Huntsman and lost in 2004.
    Rep. Jim Matheson's spokeswoman Alyson Heyrend didn't want to talk Friday about any future races.
    "Matheson has never been more excited about representing his current district," she said.
    But the congressman was well aware of his improved showing in rural and Republican counties.
    "He's very centrist in his politics, plus he spends a lot of time down there listening to people," Heyrend said.
    As Magleby has suggested, Democrats are looking for a charismatic and popular statewide candidate as one of a number of strategies to boost the party's profile.
    "I think Jim has excellent potential along those lines," state Democratic Executive Director Todd Taylor said. But he also warned against penciling in any particular race just yet. "I think that is something that will ripen on its own over time. It can't be forced."
    The last Democrat to hold statewide office was Jan Graham, who served two terms as Utah's attorney general in the 1990s. She said Matheson has what it takes to make a serious run.
    "I think Jim has established himself as an independently minded and credible leader in our state, and I think he could do very well in a statewide race," she said.
    Not so fast, says Dave Hansen, campaign manager for Sen. Orrin Hatch.
    He said Matheson might be popular now "but he hasn't been facing really strong opposition in the last couple of races."
    Matheson easily beat former state Rep. LaVar Christensen in 2006 and home-builder Dew this year.
    "A lot would depend on the quality of his opponent," Hansen said. "If the Republicans put up a strong candidate, odds are Matheson even as popular as he is right now would get beat."
    In Utah political circles, the chatter is not if Matheson will try for higher office, but when.
    "Everyone is waiting for him to try something," Hansen said.