He's being pursued by presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

As a Democratic member of Congress, Matheson is a superdelegate, who can pledge his support to either candidate regardless of the outcome of Utah's presidential primary.

He is one of six Utahns who wield an extraordinary amount of power in the tight race between Obama and Clinton. And the longer that race remains tight, the more influence these superdelegates hold.

Matheson is of particular interest because he has yet to make up his mind. Superdelegates are mostly lawmakers, state party officials and governors. About half of the 796 superdelegates remain uncommitted, while Clinton has the support of 243 and Obama has 156, according to an Associated Press survey.

Obama, Clinton and their high profile surrogates are now making an all-out push to persuade undecided delegates like Matheson.

All the effort is just another part of the race to 2,025, which is the number of delegates needed to claim the nomination.

As chairman of the state Democratic Party, Wayne Holland is a superdelegate. He has received a number of calls from Obama supporters including former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, following Utah's Feb. 5 primary.

Utah voters backed Obama, giving him a 57 percent to 39 percent victory over Clinton. For his win, Obama received 14 pledged delegates and Clinton took nine.

Holland said he has made up his mind, but is not ready to make that decision public.

He wants to talk to explain himself to some potential Democratic candidates in Utah before announcing his decision.

But he would say that his vote as a delegate was not necessarily his personal preference.

"I've always been pragmatic," he said. "I'll vote for what I think is best for the party."

Two other Utah superdelegates are backing Clinton. One endorsed Obama. And one hasn't even been named yet. Holland will name the last superdelegate during the state convention in May. That person will be a woman to keep a gender balance.

"There is a lot of lobbying going on already too," Holland said.

The Clinton supporters are former state Sen. Karen Hale and state party committeewoman Helen Langan. Both now work for Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Backer. Langan held a minor post in the Clinton administration.

Former congressman Bill Orton, who is the state committeeman, endorsed Obama the week before Utah's primary.

"I just looked at both of them and decided to support the one I felt had the greatest chance of winning in November," he said.

Orton believes Clinton has "very high negatives" associated with her time as first lady during President Clinton's term, while Obama is less partisan.

"He has the ability to connect with people," Orton said.

Orton argues that superdelegates should not decide this tight race for the Democratic nomination, voters should.

If Clinton won more delegates through the primaries, Orton said he would switch his support to her.

"Part of our decision does need to be based on the best needs of the party," Hale said, though she still believes personal preference plays a roll as well.

"It is definitely a tough vote to cast," Langan said. "I would be happy with either of our candidates for president."

The Democratic Party added superdelegates to the nominating process in 1980, but they have only been a factor in the 1984 race when Walter Mondale beat Gary Hart. Since then, one nominee has always claimed enough delegates through state primaries and caucuses.

Each state has at least four superdelegates. The party proportions the remaining slots to states by their level of Democratic support.

Utah, one of the most Republican states in the nation, only has six superdelegates, the same number as Wyoming, the Virgin Islands and America Samoa. Three areas - Alaska, Idaho and Guam - have only five.

mcanham@sltrib.com

Who they are and who they're committed to:

How the six Dem slots are filled:

* Congress members are automatic superdelegates (Matheson).

* State party chairman and chairwoman (Holland and acting chairwoman Hale).

* Committeeman and committeewoman elected at last convention (Orton and Langan).

* At large, appointed by chairman and ratified during summer convention.