Rep. Jim Matheson job approval high after opposing reform

SALT LAKE CITY — While liberals are howling at Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, for voting against his party's health care reform bill, most Utahns apparently are cheering him.

They just gave him the highest job performance rating of anyone in Utah's congressional delegation, where he is the lone Democrat, according to a new Deseret News/KSL poll.

Besides that, Matheson's approval rating is two to three times higher than what Utahns gave to national Democratic leaders, including President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

"I'm gratified that the numbers are that high," Matheson said. "I know there is a lot of concern across the political spectrum about incumbents these days. Hopefully, this reflects that people support how I conduct myself, that I look at the merits and make decisions based on that."

The statewide poll by Dan Jones & Associates on Monday — a day after Congress passed the reform bill — showed that 64 percent of Utahns said they strongly or somewhat approve of Matheson's performance, 27 percent somewhat or strongly disapprove and 8 percent were undecided.

That 64-27 support ratio was the best in the congressional delegation and just a shade better than the 64-30 ratio of Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Matheson's numbers flew into the stratosphere compared with ratings of the national leaders of his party.

Only 30 percent of Utahns approved of Obama's job performance, and 69 percent disapproved. The approval-disapproval ratio for Pelosi was an even-worse 21-72, and it was 25-55 for Reid.

When looking at respondents in just Matheson's 2nd House District and not the entire state, his numbers drop a bit. Of his constituents, 57 percent approve of his job performance, compared with 39 percent who disapprove.

And in a weird situation for any politician, his performance rating is higher among members of the opposing party and independents than it is among his own party. His approval-to-disapproval rating is 57-28 among Democrats, 64-28 among Republicans and 69-24 among independents.

"That is a little unusual," Matheson said, laughing. "I think it shows that people are looking for an independent voice in Washington these days. The partisanship is turning off a lot of people. I have always said that I am an independent voice representing Utah."