Back to the future?

Which way blows the political breeze?

The Salt Lake Tribune
If you think Salt Lake City has the most liberal voting record in the Salt Lake County, you'd be right. But based on voting trends from 2000 and 2004, did you know that Murray has as much a liberal leaning as it does a conservative bent? The following is a look at the conservative and liberal voting spectrum in Salt Lake County, including the unicorporated regions that comprise much of the valley's periphery, as well as the townships of Kearns and Magna. Roll over each city for more on the area's political makeup.

Click on this link http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3762929

Compare this information with the proposed 4 congressional districts....

Spyglass

Matheson layin low on purpose, critics say

Politics: The congressman says he has been busy doing his job and the campaign season is young
By Rebecca Walsh The Salt Lake Tribune

Before the advent of remote controls, television networks used to operate with a policy of avoiding "objectionable programming." Shows didn't have to be good. Just make sure there was nothing offensive enough on the air to make a couch potato get up and change the channel. Rep. Jim Matheson seems to have adopted a similar strategy this election. A three-term incumbent, he has a comfortable 36-point lead (based on a poll published Saturday for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV) over Republican challenger LaVar Christensen and the edge in fundraising. For the first time, Matheson apparently could do very little and still slide into office. That may be standard operating procedure for Sen. Orrin Hatch or Bob Bennett. But it's unfamiliar to Utah's lone Democrat in Congress. And he is operating like most safe incumbents - lying low, limiting his debate schedule, public comments and appearances. "He waging the win-by-making-no-comment strategy," says Hayden Hill, Christensen's spokeswoman. Matheson disputes that characterization, noting it is barely October, he has been in Washington doing his job, and he will be back in town to campaign - hard - this week. "There's no change from what we've done before," he says. "I like to campaign. I want to be out there. I always run hard. And I'm running hard this time too." But Matheson has been hard to find on particular issues this fall - Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's charges that he is not liberal enough and, most recently, Utah's push for a fourth congressional seat. One Tribune reporter staked out the Capitol last week in an attempt to get a comment. "It's possible a lot of people could be offended," says Joe Cannon, Utah State Republican Chairman. "Nobody's going to be particularly offended if he doesn't say anything." Brigham Young University political scientist Kelly Patterson calls it "textbook" incumbent strategy. Matheson's popularity is high. He can reach out to voters through town meetings, e-mails, mailings. "It makes sense - a lower-risk strategy," Patterson says. And few political advisers would tell Matheson to stick his neck out, risking the election with an errant comment about a controversial issue or a heated debate that doesn't go well. He already has the people who voted for him two years ago. And those who didn't are equally entrenched. Matheson has little to gain and everything to lose with a misstep. Former Congresswoman Karen Shepherd says Matheson is simply being cautious - like all candidates. "Campaigns are contact sports. The one thing people think about on both sides is trying not to make a mistake," she says, noting congressional hopeful John Jacob's campaign-ending speech blaming Satan for his financial difficulties. Jacob's credible challenge of U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon was mortally wounded by the comments. "We have all sorts of examples of people putting their feet in their mouths," Shepherd adds. "And the media loves a mistake more than life itself. It's a candidate's nightmare. So candidates try not to expose themselves any more than they have to." It is frustrating Christensen and his camp. Because Matheson has declined the Salt Lake Chamber's invitation, Christensen can't speak to those business leaders either. The Congressman also declined debates at KBYU and the Hinckley Institute of Politics that Christensen wanted. Two years ago, Matheson challenger John Swallow made similar complaints. Christensen's spokeswoman says the public will suffer. "He's being politically expedient," says Hill, who explains that Christensen is "so busy," he's also hard to get hold of. "We'll debate anytime, anyplace. I'd like to hear [Matheson's] answers about why he's so hesitant to stand with LaVar and discuss his vision for Utah. We feel a little upset that we don't get to share our message." Matheson's camp says it can't be held responsible for the Chamber's nonpartisan rules. And, aides note, they have committed to four debates - the same number Matheson appeared at during the 2004 election. "I suspect in the end, there will be plenty of public opportunities to hear Matheson," says Todd Taylor, Utah State Democratic Party director.