Race tight between Chaffetz and Cannon

Jones found there is real interest in the 3rd District primary election — 71 percent of those polled say they were likely to vote June 24.

Unlike Matheson, Cannon has never been an overly popular incumbent. And the 2001 redistricting by the GOP-controlled Legislature — clearly aimed at harming Matheson — didn't help out Cannon much either.

Cannon got more Salt Lake County voters in the redistricting, with GOP lawmakers even cutting out the northeastern part of Utah County and giving it to Matheson's 2nd District. Chaffetz actually lives in that small 2nd District slice of Utah County. But a U.S. House member only needs to live in his home state, he does not have to live in his district.

Cannon leads Chaffetz 39-37 percent in Utah County, but Chaffetz leads Cannon 40-36 percent among Salt Lake County registered voters who live in the 3rd District. There are more registered voters in the west-side Salt Lake County area of the 3rd District than there are 3rd District voters in Utah County — a shift that has not meant a great deal in previous elections. But in this primary it may be critical, the poll indicates.

It's Chaffetz's challenge to get those Salt Lake County voters out to the polls and support him.

Meanwhile, Matheson continues to drive Utah GOP leaders nuts with his 2nd District popularity. The newspaper's new poll finds Matheson's dominance holding strong.

The 2nd District takes in the eastern part of Salt Lake County, holds that slice of northeastern Utah County, and then bends to take in counties to the east and south and ends in southeastern Utah, including Washington and Iron counties.

Usually, the 2nd District votes Republican. But Matheson, a conservative Democrat, has easily defeated his GOP opponents the past two elections.

Jones' new poll finds that Matheson gets 93 percent of the Democratic voters, 77 percent of the critical independent voters and even 49 percent of the GOP voters. Dew gets only 36 percent of his own Republican Party votes. Dew, a millionaire homebuilder, vows to spend his own cash if necessary to run an effective campaign against Matheson, who seeks a fifth, two-year term.

---

E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com