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SALT LAKE CITY -- Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and his challenger, Claudia Wright, are both optimistic heading in to this weekend's Democratic convention.
It's the first time Matheson, who represents Utah's 2nd District, has faced a challenger at the annual convention.
"So the dynamic simply changes in the sense that there's a ballot when in the past there hasn't been," Matheson said on the Doug Wright show on KSL Newsradio.
His first convention challenge could be his last. Wright thinks she'll prove to be a tough opponent for the five-term congressman and is proud of her growing support within the party.
"We worked really hard at bringing new delegates in to the system," she said on the Doug Wright show. She says Matheson has let down Democrats and the delegates aren't happy.
Wright agrees that Matheson has more money and more support among party leaders. She thinks she can counter that with strong delegate support and her ability to bring out new voters in November.
Both candidates are making similar predictions about the convention.
"At the end of the day I also expect to be the nominee on the November ballot," Matheson said. He doubts he'll be eliminated at the convention.
Wright, however, says, "I'm hoping to get the nomination outright."
She would need 40 percent of the delegates' votes to make it to the primary and 60 percent of the convention vote to win the nomination outright.
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Story compiled with contributions from Adam Thomas and Randall Jeppesen.
