Rep. Paul Ryan courts fellow GOP members for Mia Love

Matheson was similarly optimistic. The seat is not contested in the upcoming primary election on Tuesday.

"I feel really confident," Matheson said. After representing the 2nd District since first being elected in 2000, he decided to run this year for the state's new fourth seat in Congress, which includes portions of Salt Lake and Utah counties.

"Most people are familiar with me. They know that I'm different," Matheson said. "My opponent wants to make this race all about party, party, party."

He declined to criticize her Friday night fundraiser. "I don't want to politicize the fire and talk about a fundraiser in Park City," Matheson said. "I'm not going to do that."

But State Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis said Love deserved no praise for staying away from the event. "Good for her. She just plain did her duty. Nothing special to be applauded for, she's where she should be," Dabakis said.

He still had criticism for the fundrasier itself, saying Love has been "bought off, lock, stock and barrel by all of this Washington money."

Dabakis acknowledged that Matheson also counts on cash from the nation's capital, but said the state's lone Democrat in Congress maintains his independence. 

E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com, lisa@desnews.com

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