WASHINGTON -- Democrats have Utah's 2nd District House race in their sights, along with 10 other races they've targeted nationally to help regain the mere five seats they need to win back House control.

House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt and Patrick Kennedy, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said controversy makes Rep. Merrill Cook, R-Utah, one of the nation's most endangered incumbents, and he faces a strong candidate in Democrat Jim Matheson.That came in a press conference Friday where the Democrats outlined strategy they will follow to try to win back the House.

Kennedy named 11 candidates nationally that the party thinks have the best chances of winning GOP-held seats. The party will give priority use of all its tools to help these candidates succeed.

"Many of you may be surprised, but one of our top recruits is in Utah," Kennedy said about the heavily Republican state. "Jim Matheson, son of a former two-term governor (Scott Matheson), is a moderate businessman organizing a strong campaign."

Kennedy, D-R.I., son of Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, joked, "Now, I'm not one to talk about how family names can help, but I think Jim Matheson's name will certainly help."

Kennedy added, "The Matheson name is a name that is well known in Utah. The son of a former governor, Jim Matheson is someone who has the profile that fits the district very well."

And Kennedy said controversy has greatly weakened Cook, who has been attacked by former staffers as a delusional tyrant.

Also, Cook has found himself beset by allegations that he gave a job to a campaign aide, Democrat Shari Holweg, after she threatened to blackmail him. But she says such stories spread because of a fake "ruse" phone call she made to see if her phone was bugged. She said spread of the rumor proves it was, in fact, bugged.

Kennedy said, "We predict, I think correctly, that there will be an intense primary on the Republican side" because of Cook's troubles. While several Republicans have said they are looking at running against Cook, none have yet entered the race.

Kennedy also charged, "The (GOP) leadership was trying to get Merrill Cook, one of their incumbents, out of the race. Of course, Merrill Cook has dug his heels in and promised that he won't get out of the race. That just shows you the divisiveness in that Republican primary."

Cook has strongly denied that GOP House leaders ever pressured him not to seek re-election.

He acknowledges meeting with Washington leaders, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert and House Majority Leader Dick Armey, but he said they just wanted to hear explanations from him about controversy he faces. He added they offered strategy and resources to help him overcome problems and seek re-election.

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Kennedy also said other signs that point to a Matheson win include the fact that he raised more money than Cook during the first half of the year.

Kennedy said while Democrats have targeted only 11 races so far, more will be selected as time goes on. "We expect 40 to 50 seats to be in play" with serious competition next year, he said.

Gephardt said Democrats nationally will stress that the GOP-controlled Congress "is not a do-nothing Congress, but a do-the-wrong-thing Congress."

He said Republicans tried to pass a trillion-dollar tax cut "that the majority of the American people did not want in comparison to paying down the debt, saving Social Security and taking care of some of the urgent priorities like school buildings and more teachers and better health care."

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