WASHINGTON — While democracy is supposed to be about the free exchange of ideas, there was nothing free about the campaign for Utah's 2nd Congressional District.

Candidates — mostly incumbent Democrat Jim Matheson and GOP challenger John Swallow — combined to spend a whisper less than $4 million, according to federal campaign disclosures due Monday.

But the $3.96 million spent was only the fourth most expensive House race in Utah history, well behind the $4.8 million spent in 2000 when Matheson first won the seat against businessman Derek Smith.

The 2004 total was slightly behind the 1994 total of $4.04 million when Republican Enid Greene won in a three-way contest with Karen Shepherd and Merrill Cook, and the 2002 total of $4.03 million when Swallow first challenged Matheson.

At least those are the "official" numbers reported to the Federal Election Commission. Unofficially, close to another $2 million was spent on behalf of the candidates but without coordination with the candidate's campaign — bringing the total to somewhere between $5 million and $6 million, or the most expensive House campaign in Utah history.

According to official candidate reports filed with the FEC, Matheson raised $1.97 million to go with another $121,000 in cash to start the campaign, and he spent just over $2 million on his re-election bid.

His GOP challenger, Swallow, raised $1.48 million and spent $1.47 million.

Swallow's totals included fund raising and expenses associated with a tight primary election against businessman Tim Bridgewater, who spent $439,189 on his rematch with Swallow that followed a narrow loss to Swallow in 2002.

A third Republican contender, Salt Lake Councilman David Wilde, spent $28,000 before being eliminated at the state GOP convention last April.

The bitterly contested general election race featured an unusual amount of negative advertising — at least unusual by Utah standards — and it even resulted in complaints filed with the FEC that Republicans had violated federal election laws.

In one of the most bizarre twists of the campaign, a Republican mailer attacked Matheson for supporting the "Dream Act" whereby children of illegal immigrants would be eligible for college tuition. But the bill was actually co-sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah.

With the help of fellow Democrats in Congress and a wealth of PAC money that typically goes to incumbents, Matheson was able to raise more than a half million dollars more than Swallow, and he spent that much more than Swallow and a little more.