The election contest between Jim Matheson and John Swallow is drawing big money and big names as the two second-district candidates race toward Tuesday's finish line.

According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Democrat incumbent Jim Matheson has raised more than $1.3 million to defend his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican challenger John Swallow reported fundraising totaling almost $900,000.

Vice President Dick Cheney will also stump for Swallow on Saturday in Salt Lake City, indicating this race is a priority for national Republicans.

"Statistically it is a dead heat right now," said Jason Powers, Swallow's campaign manager. "He is clearly the most vulnerable democrat seat in the U.S."

A poll released this week by the National Republican Congressional Commission projected a one-point lead for Matheson, with a 5.8 percent margin of error.

Matheson said these tactics are a familiar attempt to project momentum for candidates trailing in the days before an election and he is comfortable with his staff's internal numbers.

Although incumbents traditionally have the advantage in elections, recent redistricting changed the make-up of Matheson's constituency.

Because of these changes, both parties' national committees are pouring outside funding into this race. Both the Republican National Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have been buying airtime to support their candidates.

Election law requires fundraising by candidates to be disclosed publicly, but independent expenditures on behalf of a candidate do not always require disclosure.

Swallow said he estimates the DCCC has already spent $275,000 to help Matheson, and Matheson's staff estimates the RNCC paid $250,000 to run ads supporting Swallow.

Both sides agree these estimates are rough because they don't have time to track all independent expenditures.

Meanwhile in the race for Utah's first seat, the candidates' war chests are nearly equal. Democrat Dave Thomas has raised approximately $630,000 for the year, compared with $565,000 for Republican Rob Bishop.

Nearly all of Bishop's funding comes from outside donors, while Thomas has transferred nearly $300,000 of his own money to his campaign since winning the Democratic primary June 25.

"The Republicans always have more money than Democrats," Thomas said.

Although Bishop has the edge in fundraising, personal wealth is not a resource for his campaign. The career schoolteacher and part-time lobbyist's personal assets are estimated at $100,000.

Funds are more scarce here in the third district, where Republican incumbent Chris Cannon has totaled $300,000 to Democrat Nancy Woodside's $35,000.

And finally, a Utah record is broken for the most expensive state legislative race. According to the pre-general election report filed this week at the state elections office, candidates for Senate District 4 have doubled the previous spending record from 1998.

Republican incumbent Steve Poulton has raised $120,000 and Democratic challenger Patrice Arent has gathered $97,000.



Copyright Brigham Young University 1 Nov 2002