During their organizing convention Saturday, Republican insiders expressed skepticism about their chances of reclaiming the 2nd District seat, and one state senator said the only way to beat Rep. Jim Matheson is if Matheson beats himself.

"Unless he stubs his toe in a big way, he's good," said Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City.

Republican delegates said Matheson has gained strength during his five years in office and that district voters generally believe he is fighting hard on their behalf, even if he isn't a member of the majority party.

"Each time Matheson wins he gets more and more difficult to beat," said Frank Guliuzza, former vice chairman of the Utah Republican Party and head of the political science department at Weber State University. "Barring a misstep, after another win or two, he will have the district for a long, long time."

Republicans are not about to give up just yet. State Party Chairman Joe Cannon said he is confident that a strong candidate will step forward, while at the same time joking about trying to get Matheson to switch parties.

GOP leaders have developed a profile for their optimal candidate: someone with deep pockets or fundraising savvy who can avoid a primary battle and win the hearts of Salt Lake County voters.

"The kind of candidate it takes to beat Matheson will have to be the kind everyone can rally behind. Otherwise, Matheson is unbeatable," said Tim Bridgewater, who twice campaigned for the Republican nomination to challenge Matheson only to be beaten out by John Swallow.

Former 2nd District Congressman Merrill Cook said Republicans must find an independent-minded candidate who can attract more than just the hard-line Republicans.

"I'm not running, but you need someone who will take the kind of stands I did," he said.

The only names to surface so far are state Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard and KSL radio personality Doug Wright. All three attended Saturday's convention, but none actively campaigned for the votes of delegates, which Senate President John Valentine said was "sure a lost opportunity."

Cannon and other Republican leaders said they were still recruiting potential challengers.

Kennard downplayed the odds of entering the 2nd District race, saying he is focusing on campaigning for a fifth term as sheriff, but he didn't rule it out, either.

He says the negative campaigning in the Republican primaries and in the general election against Matheson turned off voters and dug a hole for the GOP.

"I don't think the Republican Party has put up a good candidate," he said.

Wright guaranteed a mud-free race if he enters the fray, though he is not yet ready to announce his candidacy.

"I don't know if it is going to happen, but I have always been interested in politics," he said, adding that his wife, a delegate, is pushing him to run.

He is considering the size of the 2nd District, which stretches from the east bench of Salt Lake County through eastern Utah and over all of Washington County.

Todd Weiler, who was unsuccessful Saturday in his bid to become the party's vice chairman, summed up GOP concerns about a Republican district that continues to elect a Democrat.

"We have 30,000 Matheson Republicans in Salt Lake County," he told convention attendees. "We need to hold town meetings. We need to talk to these people, listen to them and invite them to come home. They're not voting for our candidates. We need to find out why."

mcanham@sltrib.com

walsh@sltrib.com