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SALT LAKE CITY — Rep. Jim Matheson's razor-thin win in Utah's 4th Congressional District race had a lot to do with the trust he and his family have built up among Utahns over the years, political analysts said Wednesday.
"This race seemed like a perfect storm against him, and he still prevailed," said Kirk Jowers, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.
Deseret News:
Jim Matheson dodges GOP machine in win over Mia Love
Both Jim Matheson and Mia Love ran negative campaigns, with many of the attack ads coming from outside groups. But should the ads created by PACs even be allowed?Matheson defeated Republican opponent Mia Love with a total of 49.3 percent of the vote to her 48.1 percent, with Libertarian candidate Jim Vein picking up roughly 2 percent. Jowers said the win is an indicator of the respected status the congressman has among his constituents.
"I think it just shows the roots he and his family have in Utah and the trust he has built up over his 12 years of service and his family's decades of service to Utah," Jowers said.
Analysts also believe the onslaught of attack ads released by various political groups prior to the election had an effect on voter turnout in the race: more Democrats simply went to the polls.
Contributing: Dennis Romboy
