Matheson Expects Comfortable Primary Victory

06.22.2010 by Jeff Robinson

Congressman Jim Matheson

(KCPW News)  Five-term Congressman Jim Matheson’s first ever challenge from within his own party culminates today, when Democratic voters choose between him and Claudia Wright in a primary election.  The Blue Dog Democrat expects he’ll win by a comfortable margin.

“I feel great.  I’ve had a great opportunity to talk to a lot of voters, and feel good about the response I’ve gotten,” says Matheson.  ” I always run very aggressive campaigns, and I feel confident that with that aggressive campaign, I’m going to be successful.”

Matheson believes he’s run a positive campaign, focusing on his own record and not his opponent.

Claudia Wright

Wright says she feels “really good” about her odds in today’s primary.  But if she doesn’t win, she believes she’ll at least have forced Matheson to be more responsive to the people he represents.

“I think there’s no question that this has been, at least, a reminder that he cannot take his Democratic base for granted,” says Wright.  ” I think it also has focused people’s attention on money in politics.  I think we’ve done exactly what we wanted to do as far as this race is concerned, so win or lose, I feel very good about what we’ve done.”

The 2^nd congressional district the candidates are competing for includes much of Salt Lake County, but also several more rural communities in southern and eastern Utah.