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SALT LAKE CITY -- Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson hopes for another campaign win this year, bucking the tide of anti-Democrat emotions sweeping the nation.
This week, his Republican challenger Morgan Philpot claims he is closing the gap in the race.
Coming up:
2nd District Debate
Watch Jim Matheson (D) and challenger Morgan Philpot (R) debate on Sunday Edition with Bruce Lindsay on Oct. 31 at 9 a.m. on KSL TV.Philpot says meeting people in person is winning a lot of votes in his race against Matheson for the 2nd Congressional District seat. He'll ask anyone in the 2nd District, "When is the last time you saw the Congressman?"
"I think it's obvious, I'm here, I'm working. He's not," Philpot says. "He will not appear before his constituencies, he won't make public appearances."
Without recent poll results or other data, Philpot says he's relying on his own "gut" feeling about gaining in the race. But he's also been elevated by a relatively obscure website called the CBS Political Poll.
Until Friday afternoon, the map showed the 2nd District as having a "GOP edge." It now shows the district having a "Democrat edge."
Data on what the designation is based on is not available on the website. Congressman Matheson calls Philpot using the website to claim momentum "laughable."
"I know from my own polling data that there is absolutely no traction for Mr. Philpot, but he's already established that in this campaign season, he'll say just about anything," says Matheson. "He's just trying to stir things up right now because his campaign doesn't have any momentum."
This is still a tough year for Democrat incumbents overall. Political observers say Matheson may be dragged down a bit by this, but not enough to lose.
The Hinckley Institute's Kirk Jowers says Philpot will use any bit of good news to create momentum and boost fundraising.
"It might help the grassroots effort if it's not a hopeless cause," he says. "More importantly right now is that it might bring in the NRCC which will give him money that will give him a shot to close ground on Matheson."
In the meantime, Philpot continues to push as a conservative Republican working to close the gap between himself and a Blue Dog Democrat.
KSL and the Deseret News are planning another Dan Jones & Associates poll on the 2nd Congressional District race next month.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
