Blue Dog Jim Matheson defeats liberal in Utah, bolstered by President Obama

[Mathilda]

Matheson’s win was prefaced by an aggressive response to Wright’s challenge. After winning just 55 percent of the vote at the state party convention—a surprisingly low percentage for a five-term incumbent, and one that reflected the unease within the party over Matheson’s health care ‘No’ vote just weeks prior—the Utah Democrat spent nearly a half-million dollars on the race and brought in a top aide to Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) to run his campaign.

National Democrats, who feared that Wright would be an unelectable general election candidate in what remains a conservative district, weighed in on Matheson’s side. He was the beneficiary of late support from Organizing for America, President Barack Obama’s grassroots organization, which used e-mails, text messages, and campaign mailers to urge Democrats pull the lever for the incumbent. The conservative House Blue Dog Coalition, of which Matheson is a leader, provided him with late financial support



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38901_Page2.html#ixzz0rgoDVZJv

The electability meme was used in Arkansas. Chould Halter have won? Who knows? What we do know is that Ms. Blanche Lincoln trails the Republican by a gazillion points.

Meanwhile, Joe Sestak's chances are looking increasingly good in Pennsylvania.

[Unvanguard]

1. Sestak was and is eminently electable.

But that doesn't mean that it is invariably the case that challengers from the left are. Sestak is not running in Utah or Arkansas, for instance, and he actually has a reasonably moderate record.

[WI_DEM]

2. The DNC, WH is just doing what they have done all along and supporting incumbants.

[Mathilda]

3. Why? Remember the complaints that centrists are the reason why Obama didn't get his public option?

Well, if he really is being hampered by the Blue Dogs, why not endorse liberals? Or could it be that Obama is a centrist himself and Russ Feingold was right in stating that Obama didn't want a public option?

Feingold (12-20-2010): Obama Responsible for Loss of Public Option
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/20/feingold-obama-responsibl_n_398658.html

[zipplewrath]

4. Yes

At some point one must admit that Obama isn't "losing" this often, and in fact is getting the things he wants, and is supporting the candidates he wants.

[msongs]

5. Obama and "his public option"? Obama submitted a bill calling for a public option? hmm nt

[Mathilda]

14. Who said the public option is a bill?

Obama promised a public option, and he didn't get it because those evil Blue Dogs didn't want one, or so goes the justification. You know, Baucus, Lieberman, etc. Isn't that so?

[sinkingfeeling]

6. What's the chance of any Democrat ever winning in Utah?

[demwing]

8. So far, Matheson has won his seat 5 times

though he is the only Demn at the federal level of the State, Dems DO win in Utah, especially in Salt Lake City (Matheson's district). Remember Rocky Anderson? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Anderson

[JonLP24]

9. Unlikely

On the Federal Level-except for Salt Lake City which is a Democratic leaning area and is the district Matheson represents. Actually a conservative Democrat might have a shot but still have a hard time because of the strong Mormon which believe it or not as conservative as the GOP is in generally. They've often been at odds with each other. What hurts Democrats in Utah is positions on abortion and gay rights. I'm not sure exactly what Matheson is but I believe he is anti-choice or leans anti-choice. That should help him in Utah and also that he is Mormon as well as most elected officials are in Utah.

[ladywnch]

7. which is why I won't give money to the DSCC, DCCC, or the DNC

I'll fund individual candidates, not the party.....the party doesn't listen or represent me(until or unless they want money), I don't fund it.

[Radical Activist]

11. I always enjoy telling them that when they call.

I mentioned Blanche Lincoln last time.

[mmonk]

10. Well we won one in NC.

Elaine Marshall beat the DC machine "centrist" candidate.

[hayu_lol]

13. BLUE DOGS...the gift that...

keeps on giving. To the opposition only of course.

Waste of our time to even continue to try to keep these people out of office.

[Radical Activist]

12. Matheson won 68% of the vote.

It's suspect that Politico doesn't mention that, but it's typical for them. It suggests that this wasn't exactly a competitive race.

Since Matheson is the only Democrat to get elected to a major office beyond mayor or state legislator in Utah for years, I don't see much of a comparison to the Lincoln or Sestak races.

[Mathilda]

16. Well I guess you believe that Obama's organization wasted its money then

If he was going to win anyway, I don't know why they spend that money.

Wouldn't you have saved it for the future?

Or could it be that this organization believed that Matheson would have been in trouble without their mobilization in his support?

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. Sounds like it wasn't much of contest. Matheson ran away with it.

What makes you think that the head of the "Democratic" party, would not endorse a sitting "Democratic" congress person, if he's asked? Obama won't necessarily help Matheson in UT, but I doubt he'd have been able to help his opponent either.

"in what remains a conservative district, weighed in on Matheson’s side."