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Matheson brings hope for Dems
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Race
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| Contributor | ArmyDem |
| Last Edited | ArmyDem Dec 31, 2003 08:18pm |
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| Category | General |
| News Date | Wednesday, December 31, 2003 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Monday, December 29, 2003 - 12:00 AM
The Daily Herald
The new year will be an eventful one for Utah politicians. On top of a presidential campaign and seeing U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett seek a third term, the Utah governor's race promises to be one of the more dramatic and exciting political contests in recent memory.
Gov. Mike Leavitt's departure to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given Democrats hope of winning the governor's seat, while opening the door for Republican contenders.
For Democrats, Leavitt's departure means that the playing field will be closer to level than it has been in past matchups. Leavitt's incumbency gave him an advantage in terms of name recognition and fund-raising efforts. Running against him had been seen as a suicide mission that only served to keep up the appearance of a two-party system in Utah.
But with Leavitt out of the picture and Gov. Olene S. Walker indicating she won't run, Democrats see the window of opportunity opening for them, especially with Scott M. Matheson Jr., son of the late governor, on their ticket. Matheson will have a better shot at the governor's mansion than any Democrat of recent elections, though he is by no means an even-money bet. He will have to deal with George W. Bush's coattails in Utah, which will be flapping dangerously around him as the U.S. economy improves and the war on terror continues to succeed. He'll also have to deal with a Republican battle strategy that paints all Democrats as pro-abortion. |
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