Matheson skips convention to shake hands in Utah; aims to hold off challenge from Mia Love

“I think her profile is more national,” Matheson said. “I did not detect a big shift on the ground here in Utah.”

He said he's campaigning just as hard as he has in past races. "It's not my first rodeo," Matheson said. "But don't take that for being lackadaisical and not aggressive. I'm very focused."

Utah Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis, who is attending the national convention, declined to be critical of Matheson, the state's top elected Democratic official, for not participating.

“The fact that Jim would rather be in Copperton than in Charlotte is the reason he continues to be Utah’s most popular politician,” Dabakis said. “It reflects exactly our Utah Democratic party values. Utah first, ideological Washington quagmire last!”

Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright sees Matheson’s decision to bypass the national convention differently.

“Jim is trying to have it both ways. He claims he is proud to be a Democrat, but spends a lot of time distancing himself from them,” Wright said. “You can’t run from what you are. He’s a Democrat. He might not be proud of it, but it is what it is.”

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