Matheson to skip Boston convention

Rep. Jim Matheson, Utah's only Democrat in Congress, won't be heading to his party's national convention in Boston later this month, even though he is a member of the state's official delegation.

Instead, Matheson will stay in Utah and use the time campaigning for re-election to a third term. He's facing a tough race against Republican challenger John Swallow, who nearly beat him two years ago in the largely GOP 2nd District.

"This is an election year, and I take my elections very seriously," Matheson said. "Every campaign year, I take every day I can to campaign and be with my constituents — convention year or not."

The four-day convention that begins July 26 would have been Matheson's first, and an opportunity for him to participate in the formal nomination of Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina as president and vice president.