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SALT LAKE CITY — While the podium at the Republican national Convention has been taken down, the podium at the Democratic National Convention is being set up. Utah's lone congressional Democrat says he's going to avoid it. But, is there anything Jim Matheson may be missing by not going?
You might think that growing up in a political family, and being an elected lawmaker, Congressman Jim Matheson would have attended a political convention some point in his life.
Nope. Never.
Matheson says there are a few reasons why. First, he says he prefers to stay in Utah, either campaigning, getting congressional work done, or helping his kids start off the school year.
Plus, he says conventions aren't really his thing. He says they're designed, essentially, to preach to the choir.
"In some ways, they both become week-long infomercials for the two parties," Matheson said.
Matheson said the tone of the conventions can be a problem.
"Most people I talk to in Utah, whether they're Democrats, Independents, Republicans, Libertarians or whatever political stripe, they believe there is too much bickering, too much polarization and too much partisanship in our politics today," he said.
But couldn't his campaign benefit if he were to attend one? His opponent, Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love saw a major surge in contributions to her campaign after speaking in Tampa. And she's getting a lot of national attention.
Political analysts say Matheson isn't really missing anything by avoiding the conventions. In fact, attending one could actually hurt him. Hinckley Institute of Politics Director Kirk Jowers said Matheson has spent a lot of time creating an image of not being beholden to his party.
"Some people take issue whether that's true when it counts, but it's a big part of his image," Jowers said.
Hypothetically, if he were to speak at the DNC, Jowers said Matheson would have to make sure his speech isn't too partisan, or too angry. A moderate, restrained speech may not be what people want to hear at a political convention.
"He could say the message he wants, which would not be the raging partisan speech because he simply can't survive in his district with that type of a speech," Jowers said.
