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Contributors

Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

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Republicans on Alaska's congressional race

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: April 28, 2008 - 10:38 am

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

The top Republican tasked with electing GOP members to the House of Representatives offered up some thoughts today on how the congressional elections will shake out -- including in Alaska.

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. said that even though Alaskans might be lukewarm about the Republican on the presidential ticket, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the state is so red that it won't matter when it comes to the congressional race. McCain will "provide cover" for Republican candidates in Alaska, including Rep. Don Young, Cole said. (Here's a New York Times magazine profile of Cole, the head of the National Republican Congressional Committee.)

"I expect a spirited race up there, but I also think we're going to prevail in the end," Cole said. "The election will ultimately be fought in a national context."

More after the jump.

Young, in office since 1973, has a big primary ahead of him against Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who was endorsed by Gov. Sarah Palin, and state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux of Kodiak. Three Democrats are in the race: his 2006 opponent, Diane Benson; former state House minority leader Ethan Berkowitz; and the former head of the state Democratic Party, Jake Metcalfe.

Cole had some thoughts about how corruption in Alaska politics will play into the race, saying it provides a "subtheme, without a doubt."

"But so far as I know, nobody's been charged with anything and I think that becomes really critical. At the end of the day, I've served with Don Young. I believe he's an honorable man. I don't have any doubt about it."

All of this is happening in a state that's "very Republican and with a figure that's very well known," he added. "Charges against somebody that's been around as long as Don Young have to really be proven because people feel like they know him. You're going to have to convince me somebody I know is something other than what he appears to be. Which is somebody that's been relentless in the defense of Alaskan interests."

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3 April 28, 2008 - 11:20am | black33

Maybe McCain will use his wife's jet to help

McCain sponsored a bill to "reform" candidate travel, so campaigns had to pay the real cost of using corporate or private aircraft, not just reimburse the cost of a first class ticket.

He made sure he wrote in an exception: if the candidate or his wife (or a closely held corporation) owned a jet, the OLD rules would still apply.

Guess who owns a jet: McCain's wife, or her beer distributor company. So, who's been riding around in the jet for nearly nothing?

That's right: McCain. Another example of McCain saying do as I say, not as I do.

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April 28, 2008 - 12:48pm | juno

3 peas in a pod

Do as I say not as I do.
McCain/Palin/Parnell
ADN Fresh Face Launched Palin Oct. 2006
Sarah and Todd eloped in 1988..."I tell my kids, 'Don't do what I did,' " Palin said

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May 1, 2008 - 7:33am | Talkradio

Dont respond

Dont respond to the Palin haters like Juno or should I say Dan Fagan... They will have to talk to each other.

Eddie

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April 28, 2008 - 4:38pm | rfn

Makes me wonder

Who, in Alaska, McCain got fired.

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2 April 28, 2008 - 5:45pm | black33

McCain came in last In Alaska for a reason

Alaskans know straight talk. They also know bs. While some of the latter may be expected from any politician, McCain is right up there on the hypocrisometer, whether he is talking about lobbyist influence, use of jets in campaigns, public financing of campaigns and other political reform issues.

It's say one thing, and do another.

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April 28, 2008 - 6:08pm | rfn

Possibly also because:

1. He was the most liberal candidate in any of the contests - Alaskans, even avowed Democrats, tend to run a bit on the conservative side when compared with the national "model".

2. So many switched "parties" in order to vote for Obama.

Possibly.....

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1 April 28, 2008 - 10:56am | darkdakota

Don Better be Nicer to McCain

Sounds like his job might be iffy. What happens if McCain endorses a different Republican? Will the old mink biter snap McCain off at the ankles?

Why is it that John McCain is willing to help Alaska's veterans when their own Don Young refuses to? Not enough donations in those pesky disabled vets? They can't fly him on their private jets like they did for Coconut Road?

Time to call Sen. McCain and ask him to support Alaska...help us get an honest, constituent pro-active Congressional Representative.

Better yet, just vote for Diane Benson. She came the closest in years to beating Don Young and does support VETERANS!

See MakeTheArmyHonest.Com for the veteran that Young refuses to help story.

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April 30, 2008 - 9:29am | blue_in_AK

I'll second that.

Vote for Diane Benson, the clear choice among ALL the candidates this year.

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