Possible House pick up: Berkowitz (D), leads Rep. Don Young in Alaska

[cali]

A new poll of Alaska voters finds that Alaskans, weary from the scandal-plagued Rep. Don Young (R-AK), support challenger Ethan Berkowitz (D) by a 51% to 45.5% split. This marks the first time the challenger has held a lead over Young this cycle.

Perhaps of even more concern for Young, the poll found 34% are strong Berkowitz supporters -- unlikely to change their decision -- while only 19% of those polled called themselves strong supporters of Young. Berkowitz was the 2006 Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor.

CQ: "Young has rarely faced serious competition since the 1973 election he won to succeed Democratic Rep. Nick Begich, who was presumed dead after the plane transporting him to a campaign event disappeared. But Young has been under scrutiny for his connections to Veco Corp., an Alaska-based oil industry services company, which is at the center of a state political scandal that also has raised questions for Republican Ted Stevens, Alaska’s long-serving senior senator who also is up for election in 2008."
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2007/10/15/berkowitz_leads_young_in_alaska.html

[gratuitous]

1. Berkowitz' next campaign hire: Top-notch airplane mechanic

It's not possible to campaign in Alaska without flying to some pretty remote areas. I hope Berkowitz has a plane in good repair and a really good mechanic to keep it flying well. Young's opponents tend to be very unlucky.

Okay, doom and gloom over. This is really exciting news, and offers some hope that Alaskans are shaking off their unfortunate addiction to Republicans.

[cali]

2. Here's hoping that Mr.. Berkowitz has a safe

and successful campaign and beats the tar out of Young or whoever takes Young's place as repuke candidate, if Young steps down- or is forced out.

[gratuitous]

3. From your keyboard to the vox populi

Aka the voice of God.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. We have three announced Democratic candidates

for Young's seat -- my personal favorite, Diane Benson http://www.bensonforcongress.com/ ; only a little less favorite Ethan Berkowitz; and the one that I really don't care for, Jake Metcalfe. Republican Gabrielle LeDoux (who used to be a Democrat) has also announced.

I'll be surprised if old Don is around after next year. He's either going to be defeated or indicted.

[fedupfisherman]

5. Should not the Dems pare down to one candidate?

And put all the focus on taking out Young?

[Blue_In_AK]

6. That's part of what I dislike about Jake Metcalfe.

He was the chairman of the Alaska Democratic Party last year when Diane Benson first ran against Don Young. Hers was strictly a grassroots campaign, and she got very little support from the state or national party because they didn't think she had a prayer against Don. (This was pre-investigations and Don's fall from "grace.") Jake's support was lukewarm at best. Despite that, and against incredible financial odds, she gained over 40 percent of the votes to Don's 57% -- better than any Democrat had done against him since 1990.

Diane announced again in March of this year that she was running, then just a couple of months ago, Jake suddenly quit his position with the state party, and announced that since none of the other "real" potential candidates (I'm assuming he meant Ethan Berkowitz and/or Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich) had announced yet, he was going to jump in. He didn't even have the courtesy to advise Diane OR the Party, and created a fair amount of ill will.

All of us knew all along that Ethan was probably going to get into this -- although we had hoped that he would go for Ted Stevens' seat instead. I think Don looks most vulnerable now because of the many, many corruption allegations against him, so they all think they have a chance. It will all get sorted out in the primary next August, and then there will be a unified front.

Diane and Ethan are both good progressives -- Diane probably a little more so. All I know about Jake Metcalfe is that he is an IBEW lawyer, former school board member, and former District Attorney in Bethel. And he didn't do all he could have to help Diane last year. I volunteer for her and know her well, so that's a big mark against him in my book.

[fedupfisherman]

7. Can progressives win in Alaska?

Seems a big pro-oil pro right wing state

[Blue_In_AK]

8. People here are pissed off at the oil companies right now.

You may not be aware that we have many, many, many corruption cases going on up here regarding undue influence by the Big Oil companies (as channeled through oil field service company VECO) on our legislative process -- most particularly on the oil profits tax that was passed last year. It was because of that big mess that our new governor Sarah Palin was able to so soundly defeat Frank Murkowski and all the other more "establishment" Republicans (and "establishment" Democrat, Tony Knowles) that ran for governor in 2006. She is definitely a "new school" Republican.

Sarah ran on an ethics/open government platform, and is proposing completely throwing out the oil tax that was passed last year. She has called the legislature back for a special session to discuss a "do-over" raising the tax because the scheme that was passed last year didn't provide the revenue to the state that was promised. The oil companies are furious with her, but she has an 85-90 percent approval rating with "the people," so I think she's winning this fight - at least for now.

While Sarah is a social conservative, she doesn't cram her personal views down people's throats, which is a nice thing. Last year a lot of her supporters also supported Diane Benson because she too places ethics as her top priority.

Alaskans are a feisty bunch, and we're tired of "politics as usual." The vast majority of voters here are Independents and a lot of progressive ideas appeal to them. For all our "Republicanness," we do have legalized marijuana, same-sex benefits for state employees, legal abortions, and no death penalty.

[fedupfisherman]

9. Okay

Cool.

[Swamp Rat]

10. If it wasn't so cold I would consider moving there.

:scared: :D "The vast majority of voters here are Independents and a lot of progressive ideas appeal to them." :loveya:

[Blue_In_AK]

11. You'd probably freeze your little hiney off, Swampy.

But we'd love to have you. There's no place more beautiful that I can think of. Maybe sometime you can come up for a visit -- in the summer --and then see if you want to leave. :)

[Swamp Rat]

12. I have been looking at your photos.

OMG! It is so beautiful there! I love the glacier pictures. Did you take them?

[Blue_In_AK]

13. I did.

:) Glad you like them.

[Swamp Rat]

14. Just seeing the glaciers makes me want to drop everything and go there.

It makes me want to do something, anything to protect them.

Then again, we are losing our wetlands here in Southern Louisiana, and someday I suppose my city will be under water since so many folks don't think New Orleans is worth saving. All of my friends in Europe and Central and South America are still shocked by our treatment.