Matheson way out front

Second Congressional District GOP congressional hopefuls Tim Bridgewater and John Swallow were involved in razor-thin election defeats in 2002 — Bridgewater by 1,984 votes to Swallow in the GOP primary, and Swallow by 1,641 votes to incumbent Democrat Jim Matheson in the general election.

Bridgewater and Swallow are looking for rematches in 2004. But if the election were held today, the race would not be close: Swallow would thump Bridgewater, and Matheson would easily beat whomever the Republicans put up, according to a new Dan Jones & Associates poll conducted for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV. The poll of 222 voters in the 2nd District was conducted March 17 to 20 and has a plus or minus 7 percent margin of error.

The polls show Matheson ahead of his GOP rivals by 28 to 42 percentage points.

"I am really pleased with those numbers," Matheson said. "I see them as a validation of the kind of congressman I am, that I work hard and stand up for our state."

Matheson said he expects the race will be very close come the November election, and he is not taking anything for granted.

The poll of registered voters found that Matheson would fare well regardless of who his Republican opponent is. In a head-to-head with Swallow, Matheson garnered 57 percent to Swallow's 29 percent.

Swallow called the numbers "encouraging" — in 2002 he started his campaign 31 points down to Matheson.

Deseret News graphic Congressional districts Requires Adobe Acrobat.

"If I had to come back only 28 points I would be the congressman today," he said. "The way I see it, I am in better shape today than last time."

When matched up with Bridgewater, Matheson got 62 percent, compared to Bridgewater's 22 percent.

Salt Lake County Councilman David Wilde is also seeking the Republican nomination, but he doesn't fare much better, garnering 20 percent compared to Matheson's 62 percent.

"If it came down to a head-to-head with Matheson, I am confident we would catch up fairly well," said B.J. Forsgren, spokesman for the Wilde campaign. "People haven't had a chance to get to know him yet, and once they do he will bring in the votes."

Jones said the early poll results are an accurate measure of name identification, but not of how the candidates measure up with delegates who will decide the slate of candidates in the May 8 state convention. But name identification is also important to the delegates, who care more about winning in November.

"The delegates want to know which candidate can win in the general election, who will do the best for the party," Jones said.