Surprising developments in local, national politics

Surprising developments are occurring as the 2010 election year starts and the legislative session gets rolling. Here's our spin on national and local incidents.

Does the big Republican win in Massachusetts last Tuesday hold any lessons for Utah?

Pignanelli: "Hell, I never vote for anybody, I always vote against."

— W.C. Fields

Tuesday evening in Massachusetts was an important victory for Democrats because they successfully demanded a course correction in the national agenda and dumped a candidate who could not connect with voters' everyday concerns. (Yeah, this is bunk, but it's my official line and I am sticking to it.) This political event may have occurred 2,000 miles to the east, but it will impact the Beehive State. Concerns that federal health care reform would pre-empt Utah's efforts are now diminished, and there is now greater incentive for state action. Utah Democrats will need to construct a campaign strategy that prevents a repeat of Massachusetts in November elections: defections from moderate Salt Lake County voters angry with Washington, D.C. Smart Utah Republican incumbents will fashion a message to pre-empt a "throw out the bums" momentum.

Webb: In Massachusetts, Republicans were able to successfully "nationalize" the election, making it a referendum on health care reform, Obama, and the national liberal agenda. If Republicans can do the same in Utah, then Congressman Jim Matheson could be in danger.

However, it will be hard to pin Matheson to the national Democratic donkey. For one thing, he doesn't support most of the liberal agenda. Also, he's an incumbent who runs smart campaigns and has a big war chest. A survey the Exoro Group, commissioned earlier this month, showed him with the highest approval rating of any major Utah politician.

The GOP's one chance is to convince voters that if they send Matheson home, there's a good chance Republicans can retake control of the House and dump Nancy Pelosi as speaker. That line of attack has been tried in the past with little success, but this year, it might resonate better than before.

With the Legislature starting tomorrow, what impact will the departure of Sheldon Killpack have on the legislative process?