The Trail : A blog on the 2006 Alaska governor's race by Kyle Hopkins : Full Moon

Full Moon

Posted by thetrail

Posted: November 6, 2006 - 7:11 pm

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, who won his own three-man race in 2003 against Rick Mystrom and George Wuerch, said the Andrew Halcro vote could break down like this:

If Halcro gets small numbers tomorrow, then he’ll be pulling more from Palin.

That’s because people know what they’re getting with Knowles, who already served two terms. So there may be people who always knew they weren’t going to vote Knowles, but maybe aren’t into Palin either. Halcro gives them that third option, taking away votes that would otherwise belong to Palin.

But if Halcro gets a high percentage of votes tomorrow, that could hurt Knowles, Begich said. That would be a sign that people just wanted something different and are willing to take chances rather than vote for Knowles – the known quantity.

So what’s this about Begich telling voters not to choose Halcro? Begich said he’s been getting that question, or questions like it.

He said his voice does appear in a radio ad that references Halcro. Begich said he calls Halcro “his good friend” in the spot, but describes the election as a two-person race.

(That notion, of course, is exactly what Halcro has been trying to fight.)

Begich said he’s also done an automated phone call on behalf of Knowles, but that it makes no reference to Halcro.

As for Election Day?

“Tomorrow, with the full moon, anything can happen,” Begich said.

27 November 7, 2006 - 2:20pm | fourequestions

Are these numbers correct?

Other sites are reporting these as CNN numbers.

Unconfirmed Senate Numbers
by Chris Bowers, Tue Nov 07, 2006 at 05:47:59 PM EST

Don't know if these are accurate, but I just heard these.

Democrats leading in:

VA: 53-46
RI: 53-46
PA: 57-42
OH: 57-43
NJ: 53-45
MT: 53-46
MO: 50-48

Republicans leading:

TN: 51-48
AZ: 50-46

flag this »

26 November 7, 2006 - 2:00pm | alaskastraightalker

First exit polls show bad news for GOP

The first exit polls released by a group of top news agencies have indicated that national issues drove today's votes by a margin of nearly two-to-one.

While 62% of respondents indicated that national issues made biggest difference in how they cast their votes, just 33% indicated that local issues decided their vote. Republicans had recently been pressing their case that local issues would decide the races.

In what is seen as more bad news for Republicans, corruption ranked as the top issue among those casting ballots, with 42% indicating that concern in that area drove their vote.

Terrorism ranked second, with the economy and Iraq following shortly behind. Of those indicating the war weighed heavily in their vote, 57% said that they disapproved of Bush's handling of the situation, with just 41% indicating they approved of his performance.

Taxes, an issue President Bush tried to bring to the forefront in recent weeks, did not rate highly among voters.

25 November 7, 2006 - 12:35pm | fourequestions

Democratic trend for Congress underway

The key to a Democratic Congress is high voter turnout. And it looks like that that’s what’s happening in afternoon reports from across the nation.

• In Connecticut, towns reported 30 percent turnout by noon, unusually high for mid-term (AP); Sect of State predicts as high as 70% of registered voters (Greater Danbury News)

• In Virginia, election official expect TWICE as many voters than the last mid-term (AP)

• In Pennsylvania the lines formed early and will be voting late (FOX News)

• Oregon’s all-mail vote is expected to hit 84% (Daily Kos)

• In Washington State -- despite torrential rains and flooding -- lines formed before dawn (Seattle Times).

• In Ohio, Missouri, and Montana the story is the same: more voters.

• If the current momentum can be sustained Democratic leaders say control of the House is within reach. Then it’s on to the Senate. (MSNBC)

24 November 7, 2006 - 11:39am | coldstrings

Light No Matches

The only natural gas Sarah Palin is going to deliver is floating over her campaign headquarters right now.

Tony has the momentum! Go Tony!

23 November 7, 2006 - 11:26am | truthseeker

Story so far is......

BIG turnout at all the polls statewide. Great day for Alaska and just like big turnout in primary, beneficial to sarah. She gives people who normally wouldn't a reason to turn out and vote.

Gonna be a big night. I'm still saying sarah by 10%.

November 7, 2006 - 12:04pm | mike_l

you're right for once

she does give people a reason to vote. I'm specifically voting for Knowles to keep Palin and her Prop 2 /LNG Route supporters out of Juneau -and from setting this state back 20 years.

HONK HONK HONK for Knowles. That's three more honks for Tony!!! I'm getting so honked-up I may need a donut or two to calm down. See you at the Egan Center tonight.

November 7, 2006 - 12:52pm | jmcgaughran

I SECOND THAT

Sarah has not only given me more of a reason to VOTE, but also to get INVOLVED in volunteering in the Campaign for Tony.

GO TONY, GO TONY, GO TONY!!!

November 7, 2006 - 12:43pm | alasscan

Wasilla?

Anybody have an updated report on turnout in Wasilla area?

I VOTED TONY

I VOTED BENSON (do I really need to say that after that performance Young put on last night?)

I VOTED HURLEY

22 November 7, 2006 - 11:20am | mike_l

Beware of Republican Phone Calls

for behind the scenes (and free) help for Palin:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061107/ap_on_re_us/eln_intimidation_allegations_3

Sick of it? Vote for Knowles and vote Democratic.

21 November 7, 2006 - 10:52am | qtwkids

One more for the road

GO VOTE don't just sit at the computer GO VOTE. do not dismiss third parties... begich I believe was once the underdog.. shame on him for not supporting others. Our election process is ours to take back. I have faith that many voters want to do this and stop following the big money candidates. I am not saying they are all bad I am just saying I am sick of not having more choices... aren't you? Let's stir up the Freedom of Choice and win back our right to a political process that is less corrupt than counting on only two parties for representation. It is not all black or white.... we are a multi cultural diverse nation and Alaska is a precident setting state. If we cannot put faith that all parties have an equal chance that should scare you. IT needs to change. We the voters are in charge and if not in this election then soon the art of politics will change... It is a proven fact all cultures always change.

20 November 7, 2006 - 10:39am | mike_l

Mike's final prediction

based on the lack of a new Dittman poll -and a flurry of stupid posts by the Palin poodles:

Knowles 45%
Palin 41%
Halcro 14%

Doogan by 30 points.

Bill Wielechowski by 7 points. I think Wielechowski has one of the better run campaigns of all the D's. I also think he is a rising star in the party. I'd like to see a Begich -Wielechowski ticket in 2010.

November 7, 2006 - 4:22pm | signwaver

mike_l is a not a soothsayer

The Dittman numbers (if they exist?) are probably just fine.

No need to gloat.

It's over.

19 November 7, 2006 - 9:42am | gurfren

Huhhum, full moon

was Sunday. Of course I voted for HALCRO, he has the facts!

18 November 7, 2006 - 9:04am | franan

East Anch. Exit Polling

48 people - Knowles by about 14 - Halcro 3 votes - Hey - its as good as Dittman!!

17 November 7, 2006 - 8:37am | clurling

HALCRO!

My vote, My Wife's vote, My Neighbor's vote, and many of My friends are voting for HALCRO. The last several days many people have said the same thing to me.

Don't be afraid, Halcro can Win!

Vote Halcro like the rest of us, and finally put aside the partyline issues.

November 7, 2006 - 10:12am | qtwkids

Halcro has three from our house

I agree put party lines aside.. vote educated and focused. Why does Halcro not smile.. because Alaska is in serious need of focus and he knows it is an uphill battle. VOTE anyone but R and D take our election process back! Kick out coruption...

November 7, 2006 - 2:26pm | Peggy_A

Halcro has three from our house too!

What fun it was to signwave this morning! Tons of great smiles, waves, honks. Then there were several angry old guys who had the nerve to flip us off, shake their head, or yell at us. It blew me away.
Andrew Halcro was the first to announce his candidacy for Governor. He is not taking votes from anyone. A vote for Halcro is a vote for Halcro, it never belonged to someone else.

16 November 7, 2006 - 8:04am | mike_l

Wasilla Meth Labs

so the meth labs out in the Valley that exploded under Palin's watch, I guess we shouldn't worry about how she will tackle crime?

If she can't clean up the Valley, we can't expect her to get tough on crime.

Also, I she is a supporter of a sales tax. A true conservative.

As a Veteran -I am proud to be voting for Knowles today.

November 7, 2006 - 11:01am | disenchanted01

Grasping

at the last proverbial straw. The meth problem has spread like wildfire across the WHOLE country and there's plenty of it in Anchorage so its hardly just a Valley problem. There hasn't been a gubernatorial candidate born who could single handedly solve this national problem. Not even Tony Knowles.

November 7, 2006 - 12:46pm | alasscan

Mayor....

A Mayor should be able to do a lot more about a local problem.

Lot of tax money to spend on these programs....Sarah liked the Tax!

I would say drugs and DUI are a big priority for MOST Mayors....why wasn't it hers?

November 7, 2006 - 12:39pm | realist

meth labs

I don't think it's fair to blame the Valley meth explosion on Sarah, but I am not exactly comfortable with her view that Wasilla is paradise. Do we want the whole state to be more like Wasilla? I don't. Though it would give Mr. Whitekeys even more material if he decides to open up a new nightclub.

15 November 7, 2006 - 7:17am | tlamb99503

Taking at stand at the polls

A friend states that at East High, voters are standing in- line to vote.

November 7, 2006 - 7:51am | mike_l

they are voting for Knowles

and the ones standing in line at the Spenard Rec Center are voting for Doogan.

November 7, 2006 - 9:32am | truthseeker

Dream weaver.............

Its really going to hurt tomorrow. Hope you are ready and still have faith in our great democracy which will prove that someone like sarah palin can run an honest and above board campaign and still win big. It will give great hope to honest politicians in the future.

November 7, 2006 - 10:55am | hardwknman

Honest ??????

Just look at what the republican party has done to our country and our state. I think NOT !!! My Support goes to KNOWLES

November 7, 2006 - 9:24am | tlamb99503

It must be a full moon

Mike L,

Like I said before, it is always enjoyable to read your posts.

District 26 District/Precinct Name Location Address

26-660 LAKE SPENARD SPENARD RECREATION CENTER 2020 W 48TH AVE, ANCHORAGE

November 7, 2006 - 10:37am | mike_l

It's on record

you have publicly stated that you won't run for school board in 2007. It is now a matter of public record.

Another question for you -Maytag guy: why does Michael Jackson only wear one glove?

November 7, 2006 - 10:55am | rfn

the glove

Other one was taken in partial settlement of taxes?

November 7, 2006 - 10:58am | akisok2

hahahaha

rfn and Black3 are tied for some of the most humorous posts to date.

November 7, 2006 - 11:05am | rfn

Best of all

Was the cartoon in The Frontiersman this morning. The one with the front page illustration of:

The Anchorage Daily Knowles.

Tomorrow's likely ADN headline might be expected to read as one of the two below:

(80-point)
Knowles Forever!

(80-point)
Knowles Takes Second!
(10-point sub-head)
Palin win a disgrace.

Once upon a time there was a choice in newspapers but then came The Veco Times.... whose editorial policies, even in the quarter page version, appear to have merged with The ADN.

November 7, 2006 - 11:20am | mike_l

"Republicans Indicted in VECO Scandal."

Palin Loses!!!

14 November 7, 2006 - 5:58am | turdball

Where will Frank and Jim Clark be in 6 months?

Hooked up with big oil?? Cushy jobs with the feds?? Or on a south sea island as an ambassador?? Maybe Pedro can hire them both after the state paying him gazillions of dollars to do beach clean up in the Bahamas. Lets take a poll on that one tomorrow Kyle. The good thing is they will both be gone. Even his retirement party is in Washington DC. Not enough RSVPS here.

November 7, 2006 - 7:29am | jtgranger

Most likely the'll sit in a

Most likely the'll sit in a Federal Jail, like many politicians in or from Alaska.

Like Ted, Ben, Don, Art, and their friends thinking that two bridges to nowhere, were going nowhere.

Of course that Adak mess is too confusing in all the fishey dealings they are involved in.

Vote for Young, then the new Gov, can appoint the next rep to Congress for Alaska.

Confused?

Like Adak, and sons, the bridges for son's is pretty simple and illegal in any state of the Union.

A problem in Alaska, with politicians has always been they forgot that Abraham Lincolns Sec. of State, bought the property for the United States.

For some reason these politicians still think the Russians own it. Pulling off their "Backroom Secret Deals" so often one can hardely keep up, as the new Chief of the FBI's Criminal Division told you in McClatchey's report yesterday.

Citing the intellegent Japenese commander, "we have awoken a sleeping giant" how about the intellegent American commander that said, "We will accept no terms but unconditional surrender."

Amusing the Texan and Alaska operations, as written in the 9th Circus, called a circus for opinions like, Icicle Seafoods v. Baker, citing Fletcher Christian? Theres a neat concept from another "midnight judicial appointment" and to think a federal judge from Fairbanks would have never read Marbury v. Madison.

Retirement Party?

April, 28 1789, "Never fear my lads, if I ever get to England I'll do you Justice."

Seems Andrew Kleinfeld is lacking in his American Law Class, and his American history class also, should have read this case, and the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789, a great year for life, liberty, and property, kind of like July 4, 1776 with Jeffersons great document a National Holiday for ever.

"He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people."

But that's what happens, when you leave your children behind, and elect or appoint them to three branches of government.

Thats why Jefferson, wrote about the Jewish Lawyers, to James Madison.

It's hard to stop these train wrecks, and the Constitutional violations by Alaskas politicians are some of the most amusing in American history.

November 7, 2006 - 8:59am | alaskandomer

I think you need to cut down

I think you need to cut down the dosage on your meds.

November 7, 2006 - 8:18am | Black3

I just couldn't stop

the "Twilight Zone" theme from playing as I read that! Tin Foil Hat time.

November 7, 2006 - 8:56am | akisok2

That's probably...

... the only thing on which you and I have ever agreed.

November 7, 2006 - 9:49am | realist

another agreement

I take it that jtgranger isn't exactly a supporter of Ethan Berkowitz.
This hasn't been much discussed in the political debate, but I wonder if there are any others in Alaska who are motivated by anti-Semitism. I'm hoping he's an isolated case.

November 7, 2006 - 11:14am | hardwknman

Here is a thought

Why not hold Murkowski accountable for his bad doing in a court of law and make him an example for future politicians who want to dip in the cookie jar. Also as a people come up with measures to safe guard our tax dollars that we can vote for on ballots.

November 7, 2006 - 12:50pm | Black3

You must be Conoco-Phillips, Exxon, or

BP, because they're pretty much the only taxpayers when you talk about the State. All the taxes and fees that the average citizen pays to the State, e.g., fish taxes, some resources taxes, registration, licences etc., wouldn't run the State more than a few days a year. It amazes me that the citizens of this State wrap themselves in "taxpayer" when most don't pay for any of the services and use of infrastructure they take for granted. Assuming you live in one of the places that actually deigns to tax itself at all, unless you spend a lot of money locally and own a pretty spendy house, the PFD offsets your local sales, if any, and property taxes. Chilkoot Charlie really was Alaska's Founder; we cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you.

"Bad doing" is in the eye of the beholder; please point out the illegal things Murkowski did for which you'd like to put him in the dock.

November 7, 2006 - 12:59pm | alasscan

no tax?

and you think BILLIONS in incentives to big oil companies comes from where?
Do you not pay federal tax? Do you not pay tax at the pumps? Are you enjoying more increases in utility costs with this state administration than we have experienced before?
Just because it doesn't say TAX on the label doesn't mean it isn't inspired by exactly that.

November 7, 2006 - 1:08pm | Black3

I choose my words carefully.

I referred to taxes paid to the State. BTW, Alaska has one of the lowest gasoline taxes in the Country.

If you accept the fundamentally socialist nature of the Alaska economy, then it could be said that individual citizens have some ownership of the State's resources. Then, that given, there is opportunity cost in tax or revenue incentives, but there is no direct cost or tax to a citizen to be paid out of their other earnings.

November 7, 2006 - 1:12pm | alasscan

I choose mine likewise.....

Could we possibly disagree more?

November 7, 2006 - 1:28pm | Black3

And you have an argument

to support your disagreement? Tip: "I feel strongly" is not a compelling, logical argument.

November 7, 2006 - 6:31am | mike_l

Frank and Jim

will have jobs with Jerry Ward and Robin Taylor, after Palin appoints them to jobs in Juneau.

November 7, 2006 - 9:00am | alaskandomer

So you concede that Sarah is

So you concede that Sarah is going to win today?

November 7, 2006 - 1:05pm | mike_l

your high

to think I would assume something so disasterous for this great state as a Palin victory.

Palin is surrounded by nuts that want to tax Big Oil on the gas reserves. She is surrounded by NUTS that favor the LNG route. She is HOSTILE towards the entire oil and gas industry. Like Tony or not, he is the only candidate that can get that gasline contract signed. Big Oil won't negotiate with Palin or anyone she appoints. And becuase of numerous stupid posts by Palin supporters on this blog - I am most certainly voting for Knowles.

November 7, 2006 - 9:17am | SuperVoter

He Always Knew Tony Would Lose

What he didn't know was that the point of a concession speech was to sound gracious in defeat.

November 7, 2006 - 8:23am | Black3

It must make you feel good to say things

that stupid. Clark was/is a very successful attorney; taking the COS slot cost him money. He'll breathe a sigh of relief when the new Governor takes her hand off the Bible and go back to practising law. And why on Earth would a former Senator and Governor take an appointment?

13 November 7, 2006 - 5:47am | truthseeker

Tomorrow?

Kyle, will you still have the blog up for a few days after the election? It will be highly enetertaining to hear what the gaggle of self delusional posters below have to say when sarah palin, the people's governor, has been elected.

I especially liked the deprecatory remarks about the throngs of sarah supporters willing to stand out in the cold to wave signs to support her. I stopped by new seward and no. lights for a little while yesterday and the honks and thumbs up were running about 20 to 1 in favor of sarah. The knowles folks across the street stood glumly there and had to listen to it all.

I don't think they would be writing like the folks below, except for the one that was praying for a knowles victory. At least they realized that it would take an act of god for tony to win. That isn't going to happen.

November 7, 2006 - 9:27am | thetrail

Blog

What do you guys think? Would it be useful/interesting to keep the blog alive for a few days after the election?
I'd personally like to hear everyone's take on whatever happens tonight.
-- Kyle

The Trail : A blog on the 2006 Alaska governor's race by Kyle Hopkins

Archive

Full Moon

Comments