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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah's only congressional Democrat is being targeted by the Republican National Committee's "Fire Pelosi" bus tour.
A Republican-sponsored rally is planned Saturday in Sandy in support of U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson's 2nd District GOP opponent, Morgan Philpot.
Philpot and other Republicans contend that a vote for the moderate Matheson equates with a vote for the more liberal Nancy Pelosi of California as House speaker. Yard signs saying Matheson equals Pelosi have already begun popping up around the state, forcing Matheson to send an e-mail to supporters Friday.
"We are all too familiar with these outside attacks on me. You have seen it before. I know that you reject this type of extreme rhetoric from Washington outsiders who know nothing about what matters to Utah families. They don't know me, or my record, but they know how to inject large sums of money into this race," Matheson wrote.
Philpot says that with Pelosi as House speaker, Democrats pursue a more liberal agenda than Utah voters would approve.
"It's just a response and a reaction to an American public that is incredibly frustrated with the leadership of Nancy Pelosi and they recognize that here in Utah we've got a congressman who has voted for her as speaker every time and helped push an agenda that is bankrupting our country," Philpot said Friday.
Pelosi is unpopular in highly conservative Utah. The Democratic nominee in the 3rd District, Karen Hyer, has already issued a statement saying she wouldn't vote for Pelosi if she were to defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz.
"I represent the constituents of my district, not the constituents of San Francisco, and the two districts couldn't be further apart. Furthermore, though I applaud her for being the first woman speaker of the House, she's an entrenched insider, and that's what Americans are tired of," she said on Thursday.
Matheson calls the tour a political distraction, and notes he doesn't always vote with Pelosi. Indeed, Matheson faced a rebellion from some Utah Democrats earlier this year and was forced into his first-ever primary after five terms for not voting in favor of President Barack Obama's health care bill and other measures.
Matheson represents a Republican-leaning district and has heard "a vote for Matheson is a vote for Pelosi" in past elections. He said while some voters ask him about it, most are concerned about the economy.
"I know my constituents know who I am. They know I'm an independent voice and not a rubber stamp for a political party. And I suggest my opponent would be a rubber stamp for a political party," Matheson said.
Matheson also said he's open to voting for another Democrat with views more similar to his own for House speaker if one runs against Pelosi.
Morgan Bowen, the 1st District Democratic nominee, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on Friday.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
