Reader comments
Matheson waiting out Demo race

Against the Grain | 12:35 a.m. May 8, 2008

What's left to decide? Surely, after 16 months of this, he could have learned everything he needed to know to make up his mind.

I think he's supporting Hillary, and doesn't want to tell people because he;d admit to going against 2/3 of Dem voters in his district.

Mark Burrell | 2:16 a.m. May 8, 2008

Since when is it a requirement for an elected official to tell anyone his/her choice for another office? Come on people, it ain't over till the fat lady sings. Hillary has proven herself to be the gutsiest candidate since FDR ran after conquering polio. With all the garbage out there on Obama and all that hot air floating about like a leaky balloon, he could self distruct yet leaving her as the only viable candidate on tap. So kidlets, it ain't over till its over!

Joe | 3:07 a.m. May 8, 2008

Matheson doesn't support any one or anything but himself. He is an exemplary opportunist.

Comments continue below

justjoe | 5:25 a.m. May 8, 2008

As the column says, the West is different from the liberal East; he probably shouldn't go with the most liberal senator in the U. S.

Time For a Change | 6:03 a.m. May 8, 2008

Just another example of leadership the Matheson way!

If you can't make a decision you shouldn't have run for the position.

Opportunist | 7:35 a.m. May 8, 2008

I just want to make clear why he is doing this.

Matheson is calculating. Its what he does best; measures every word and action in his head fifty times before he makes a move.

On the one hand, he thinks he can avoid alienating Clinton and Obama supporters/detractors by not taking a stand, assuming the race is decided before the convention.

ON the other hand, if it goes to convention and if superdelegates become the deciding vote, then he hopes to start a bidding war for his vote; see how much power he can leverage his vote for between the two candidates.

actually . . . | 8:42 a.m. May 8, 2008

. . I think he is planning to vote for McCain.
Do you see his dilemma?

Taylor | 9:10 a.m. May 8, 2008

I think he just wants to back a guaranteed winner here. He seems to be nothing more than a fair-weather fan in this instance.

My opinion | 9:39 a.m. May 8, 2008

Don't you all want him to do what's best for Utah? Supporting the winner, and possibly gaining some leverage along the way is probably best for the state.

Re: my opinion | 9:57 a.m. May 8, 2008

If he was trying to gain leverage for the state then he should have taken a risk and jumped in early on a candidate. There is no leverage once the race is essentially over.

Classic Matheson - scared of his own shadow.

Anonymous | 10:04 a.m. May 8, 2008

Atta boy Matheson.

Continue being the super delegate you're supposed to be.

Don't cave into popular politics or opinions, but maintain the independence that super delegates were intended to possess and be.

A super delegate bases their vote not on the popular or pledge vote but on the greater picture of the electability of a candidate by the overall voting population of the country and who would most likely carry the electoral vote, regardless is someone else actually carried more of a party's popular/pledge vote.

It does no good for a super delegate to support someone who may have the most popular/pledge votes when they may not carry the general election electoral vote... which is what the super delegate is actually most concerned about (or should be) after all is said and done.

Matheson, you just stay where you are and then cast that vote for the one you believe would be most likely to carry the majority of electoral votes in the November general election.

That what super delegates are about, like it or not!

Re: Anonymous | 11:04 a.m. May 8, 2008

"It does no good for a super delegate to support someone who may have the most popular/pledge votes..."

Translation: Don't support the candidate that the majority of the sheeple in the Democratic party support, vote for Hillary.

Matheson needs to vote Right | 11:09 a.m. May 8, 2008

Super Delegates should not just consider popular vote, but should consider who has the best chance of winning. Even though I voted for Obama, if it is determined that he can't win the general, I would hope the Super Delegates would vote for Hillary.

Super Dog | 11:25 a.m. May 8, 2008

Leverage? What kind of leverage has Matheson exerted on Utah's behalf? Electing Nancy Pelosi? We don't need that kind of leverage. Of course, we don't need Clinton or Obama either.

This isn't about leverage. It's about the political reality that neither Clinton nor Obama is an asset to the majority of his district. He'd rather stay quiet and let the storm blow over, never revealing his true self.

Suggestion | 12:22 p.m. May 8, 2008

Congressman Matheson - Here's a suggestion.

Vote for Ron Paul!

YEAH! | 12:45 p.m. May 8, 2008

vote for Ron Paul!

HaHaHaHaHaHahaHa

that's it; vote for Ron Paul!

HaHaHaHaHaHahaHa

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