Mac v. Mo

When Stewart L. Udall became Secretary of the Interior in January, he gave up his job as Representative from Arizona's Second District--a district that includes the whole state except the Phoenix area and has a history of hard-riding political warfare. Last week, as national leaders of both parties watched closely, the two candidates for Udall's old seat began stepping up their campaigns for next month's election. The rivals: Republican Businessman Mac C. Matheson, 43, a smooth-speaking conservative, and Democratic Lawyer Morris K. ("Mo") Udall, 38, one of Stew's kid brothers.

Running Scared. At first glance the odds seemed all in favor of Mo Udall. Both he and Stew are popular personally, and the Udall family is a sort of Arizona institution. The brothers' grandfather arrived in a covered wagon, became patriarch of a clan that spread throughout the state. The brothers' father grew up to become the state's chief justice. As a boy, Mo Udall had his right eye blinded in an accident with a knife but went on to win local fame as a star, 6-ft. 5 in. basketball forward at the University of Arizona. Also favoring Udall is the fact that the district's Democrats outnumber Republicans in registrations by more than 2 to 1. But Mo Udall is running scared, for Arizona Democrats have a maverick tendency to vote Republican. The conservative surge in Arizona won the state for Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 and for Richard Nixon in 1960. A Republican has been elected Governor since 1958, and the voters give enthusiastic support to silver-haired Senator Barry Goldwater, leader of the Republicans' conservative wing.

Although Mo Udall is more conservative than his big brother (Mo opposes farm supports, has mild reservations about federal aid to education), he seems to be a wild-eyed New Frontiersman compared with Mac Matheson, a former radio announcer who is now part owner of some Muzak franchises and who lost to Stew Udall last year. Devoted to Goldwater, Matheson strongly opposes federal aid to education, minimum wage legislation and the welfare state. Says he: "People are being offered a mess of welfare pottage in exchange for their American birthright.

Passing the Baton. Confusing the election still more is the question of religion in a district whose voters are about 10% Mormon. Both candidates are Mormons, but Matheson is far more active in the church. He spent two years as a missionary in the British Isles, has served in a number of local church offices.

On the campaign trail last week, Matheson was covering the district in a compact station wagon, and Udall was flying his own Piper Tri-Pacer. But with the whole Udall clan pitching in for Mo, Matheson was beginning to feel the pinch. "I feel like I'm running against a relay team," he said. "No sooner do I get through with one Udall than he hands the baton to a brother."

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