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This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has probably never been more interesting than right now -- the governor as candidate for vice president, the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.

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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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See-saw Senate race: New Rasmussen poll shows Stevens reclaiming lead

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: June 18, 2008 - 7:16 am

From David Hulen in Anchorage --

A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Sen. Ted Stevens leading Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich 46 percent to 44 percent. It was a telephone poll of 500 likely voters statewide; the margin of error is 4.5 percent.

Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska has narrowly regained the advantage in his bid for a seventh term against Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, as the numbers seesaw again in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that Stevens, the longest serving Republican in the Senate, leads his Democratic opponent 46% to 44%. A month ago, it was Begich with an equally insignificant advantage, 47% to 45%. This is the third straight poll where the candidates have been within two points of each other.

...Perhaps in part because of his long-time and well-known ability for bringing federal monies into the state, Stevens is still viewed favorably by 51% of Alaska voters, up 5% from last month. Those with an unfavorable view of the senator have dropped even more dramatically, from 53% last month to 44% now.

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8 June 24, 2008 - 6:58am | Tpayne

Why no coverage for Bob Bird?

Bob Bird--who took more votes in the 1990 GOP Primary than Cuddy did in '96 having only spent 65K--has been in the race for over a month running a small governent, pro-Alaskan campaign on the AIP ticket. In a state where 53% of registered voters are either undeclared or non-partisan, why is 100% of the press coverage directed to the two parties that the MAJORITY of AK voters are distancing themselves from???

June 25, 2008 - 10:38am | editorsblog

First the primary

Our reporting efforts now are focused on the competitive primary races. After the primary, we will turn our attention to the general election races.

Pat Dougherty

7 June 23, 2008 - 12:00pm | akmooster

adn should be ashamed....

to avoid the deleted button let me add this sentence:
I submit that I believe and can prove and therefore ALLEGE the following:

FACT: Mark Begich is guilty of unethical acts and criminal acts.
FACT: Mark Begich is under investigation by the FBI and state investigators for these acts and is aware of it.
FACT: ADN has been provided with proof.
FACT: ADN editors refuse to run with this huge story because it conflicts with their personal political desires.
FACT: ADN refuses to even ask their golden boy to spin away on these facts and the information ADN has, much less investigate it, hold his feet to the fire and demand the truth.
FACT: some editors at ADN put their pride in being able to manipulate the election favoring their political leanings over their pride in being good journalists and doing what they promised themselves they would do when they first got their degrees.
FACT: If ADN would ask mark begich 30 questions I would be happy to provide, and if mark begich would be so kind as to answer them fully and honestly and provide some tax returns and documents regarding the financial disclosures of deals he made with jon rubini, his indisputable corruption would be exposed, allowing the voting public to make an informed decision in the voting booth.
If you were an honest man and running for election, wouldn't you want to put these allegations behind you?
If you were a journalist, wouldn't you feel cheap or guilty for keeping this quiet? Wouldn't you wonder when it happened that your integrity and who you are became of secondary importance to your political postion?
Could this type of journalistic abuse be why ADN is becoming about as relevant as the tidbits paper at your local diner?

June 25, 2008 - 9:54am | dhulen

akmooster

David Hulen, ADN state/local news editor here. akmooster, I question several of your "facts" here, including supposed motives of ADN news editors. If you can prove Begich is under investigation by FBI, I want to hear about it. Please call me at 257-4596. dhulen@adn.com.

6 June 18, 2008 - 5:40pm | greatland1963

Los Angeles' top liberal female activists giving 100k to Begich

This was in the Politico Newspaper today but ironically has yet to show up in the ADN. It hints that "Hollywood's most politically savy women" may be able to coax Barbara Streisand to perform for Mark at a swank fundraiser. Begich and Al Franken have agreed to $100 K minimum from this crowd. That money will be spent on tv ads trying to convince you that Begich is independent and won't be a captive of the lock-up Alaska crowd.

Let's see if the ADN or AP tells Alaskans about this.

June 18, 2008 - 8:03pm | akallegro

Well lets review

No news on Stevens but ADN makes up a story about: Could an on going investigation have an impact on the election?

Then they proceed on the front page for paragraph after paragraph about every crook that has gone to jail except for Begich's money man Bill Bobrick. You remember him, he got the lightest sentence of all those convicted by Marks good friend Judge Sedwick.

Begich says something laughable about getting ANWR votes out of the left wingnuts and ADN paints it as the second coming on the front page.

Begich comes out on top of a poll and it goes on the front page too.

Now Stevens is on top and that note gets buried on the blog.

Begich goes whoring in Hollywood and that get buried too.

There are reasons beyond classified advertising dollars that the ADN is struggling.

Readership may be higher in numbers but I wonder what the percent of readers to population numbers are.

More folks are finding it harder to ignore that the ADN is not a news source but an opinion rag. It is almost impossible to find an article that is written with only the w's.

There is almost always a not so hidden bias in what is said, left out or where it shows up.

Since when did legitimate news articles start with a question?

We're still waiting to see the follow up ADN does on Begichs claim to get ANWR votes from Schumer and Co.

How many interviews has Erika Bolstad set up in DC to get reaction to Begich's announcement 6 days ago?

June 18, 2008 - 9:18pm | Cartman3_15

Bias comes

in many forms.

If you're predisposed to seeing bogeymen behind every tree, you're more likely to think you've seen a bogeyman.

In addition to being present in reporters and editors, bias is also present in people who read newspapers. It colors the lens of their own perception. It's not a bad thing. It just is.

But it needs to be acknowledged.

June 18, 2008 - 11:15pm | akallegro

agreed

Readers have their own opinions and bias but they don't get to weave it into stories on the front page, just here on the blog.

June 18, 2008 - 8:36pm | chilcoot

Totally Right

akallegro has clearly figured it all out. She should open up her own newspaper and report these stories. I'm sure the free market will support her and destroy the ADN.

Sure, the ADN reported every phase of Mr. Bobrick's prosecution, conviction, sentencing, and imprisonment. Even though Mr. Bobrick is not an elected official like Anderson, Kott, Kohring, Young, and Stevens are/were. But that's not nearly enough. It must put it on the front page every day from here until eternity.

5 June 18, 2008 - 3:54pm | concerned1voter

Tune into the FAGAN PODCAST for today

Super Dave totally humilated Julie Haskett (mouthpiece for Begich) on the Fagan show today.

She could not answer why Begich is having a fundraiser in California with the JANE FONDA group nor why the most liberal not moderate Democrats are holding fundraisers for him in New York ie....Chuck (anti-ANWR) Schummer.

I know you are highly paid campaign spokesman, Julie, but give me a break!!!! I doubt if you believe the crap you argued on the show today.

Listen to the podcast and get enlightened!!!!!

4 June 18, 2008 - 3:18pm | rayrocks

Before donating to any campaign

check out:

www.beggichbaggage.com

and www.metcalfe4senate.com

Metcalfe for Senate 2008.

June 18, 2008 - 3:23pm | chilcoot

Agreed!

I can't imagine a more pathetic, cynical pair of websites. If those embarassing, dishonest wastes of bandwidth don't make honest Alaskans want to donate to Mayor Begich's campaign, nothing will. Great post!

3 June 18, 2008 - 2:48pm | Stags_Leap

you can all donate to the campaign

www.begich.com

June 18, 2008 - 3:19pm | rayrocks

Liberals like Begich

are not electable in this state. Even if he didn't have that ethical cloud hanging over his head.

June 18, 2008 - 3:29pm | rfn

I don't know.....

All those people in the city formerly known as "Anchorage" who are beaming with contentment over their property tax bills are certain to vote for him!

Both of them!

June 18, 2008 - 3:17pm | rfn

But why?

And, whilst we are about plugging websites, don't forget to check the latest at begichbaggage.com. No link....I wouldn't want to lure anyone to a website under false pretenses.

2 June 18, 2008 - 10:43am | rfn

Would be interesting

were a poll to be done in the next few days while Alaskans still ponder the propriety of attacks on Senator Stevens over his having returned to Alaska to the side of his dying mother-in-law rather than being in DC to cast a vote over a global warming matter that was already DOA.

Do the proponents of the politics of personal destruction EVER stop to think about the consequences of some of their actions?

1 June 18, 2008 - 7:20am | BunkerBuster

Need FBI action

Once he finally gets arrested those numbers outta change back to where they should be.

June 18, 2008 - 9:07am | dirkwells

Observant one

J. Edgar Hoover no longer runs the FBI.

June 18, 2008 - 8:47am | north_to_alaska

The ADN is relying on

The ADN is relying on readers like yourself to sell papers these days......ignorant fools who don't understand that you're innocent until proven guilty.

I wonder how long until the ADN cuts another 35 staffmembers due to lack of readership?

June 18, 2008 - 9:35am | chilcoot

Lack of Subscribers, Not Readers

As I understand it, the ADN's troubles relate to lack of subscribers, not readers. I doubt the ADN's influence has ever been greater than at present. Their problem is trying to make money off their services.

June 18, 2008 - 12:01pm | editorsblog

Correction

Our problem is neither readers nor subscribers. As I write this message, we have the highest readership in the history of the Daily News. In fact, we have the largest audience any news organization in Alaska has ever had.

In a nutshell, the difficulty we face is the loss of classified advertising in print, and the general slow economy, especially in California and Florida, where our company is heavily invested.

Pat Dougherty

June 18, 2008 - 12:54pm | chilcoot

Right, and....

....the loss of classified advertising in print would have to be related to a decrease in eyeballs looking at the print, which relates to the ADN's decrease in subscribers.

Alaskans plainly value the ADN and its services more highly now than ever. The issue is what the ADN can do to be better compensated for those services. Responsible Alaskans are all rooting for the ADN to do better, financially.

June 18, 2008 - 5:38pm | editorsblog

Let me try again . . .

It's not the loss of eyeballs reading classifieds in the paper. It is the opportunity for classified advertisers, especially what we call "private party" classified advertisers, to place ads online for free rather than in the paper for money. (Do you spend $40 to sell a mattress and box springs for $125, or do you put it online for free?)

Pat Dougherty

June 19, 2008 - 6:09am | rfn

Once knew a fellow

who sold fish for 50-cents each.

He sold lots of fish.

They were so popular he raised the price to 75-cents each.

Still sold fish but not so many. He made up for the lower volume on the higher price and profited.

Then he raised the price to $1 and still sold enough fish that he was a little ahead but worked less hard.

Then he raised the price to $5 per fish.

Guess what?

June 18, 2008 - 3:15pm | rfn

In fairness to The ADN,

the bigger problem is that more eyeballs are reading parts of the paper but not all of it. Like railroads and airlines, fewer (readers)(riders) somehow translates into higher rates to make up the difference. That, in turn, drives more people to alternatives like The Internet, more local "papers" and even tacking up notices on bulletin boards around their own town.

Seattle-North is also over supplied with radio and TV stations resulting in very inexpensive advertising alternatives.

Life is hard.....but it's not just here.

June 18, 2008 - 8:30am | skinny_gal

Did I miss the indictment?

Or he doesn't get arrested because he has done nothing wrong - and he sails to victory in November. Do you remember how our legal system works?

June 18, 2008 - 9:44am | seewhy

it falls to the AK GOP

i suppose, to determine if an 84 year old senior senator ensnarled in controversy is really a viable candidate or not. he could choose to bow out and throw his support to parnell if he wanted to. he'll be more than 90 at the end of his next term. i don't have an opinion on it, other than it's entertaining.

June 18, 2008 - 11:13am | dirkwells

Observant One - Part Two

Parnell is running for the House of Representatives. Stevens is running for reelection in the US Senate.

If Parnell and Stevens win their respective primaries, then Stevens most likely will lend his support to Parnell in the general election, as both are Republicans.

In the US Constitution, there is no maximum age to serve as member of the House, Senate, or President. There is a minimum age for Presidency.

US History is usually taught in high school. I found it both entertaining and educational.

June 18, 2008 - 2:57pm | seewhy

ha!

i guess i could have thought that one through better. i got one entrenched, ancient politician mixed up with another. stevens probably hasn't ever had primary opposition, eh.

October 13, 2008 - 7:10pm | megal_11

howabout

tod converter can convert TOD files to other video formats, such as AVI, Mpeg, DivX, VOB, WMV, MP4, etc, with high out-put quality and fast converting speed.

June 18, 2008 - 8:22pm | LilysDaddy

No Opposition?

You obviously don't remember the absolute force of nature that opposed Ted in the 2002 Republican primary, the indefatigable Theresa Obermeyer. Ask anyone: that primary was a donnybrook! And be sure and ask Theresa about her husband being railroaded by the Alaska Bar Association.

Go on, ask. I dare you.

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See-saw Senate race: New Rasmussen poll shows Stevens reclaiming lead