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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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Poll chatter

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: July 22, 2008 - 8:48 am

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

Polls are popping up everywhere in Alaska's congressional and Senate races.

In a poll released yesterday, Rasmussen Reports gives Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, a Democrat, a nine point lead over Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. "When "leaners" are included, Begich leads 52 to 44 percent," according to the poll. Also: "Last month, Stevens was up two, 46 to 44 percent. In May, the incumbent trailed by two. The month before, Stevens had a statistically insignificant 46 to 45 percent lead. Begich’s current lead is the largest the race has seen since Rasmussen polling began," the poll's authors wrote.

The poll credits the bump to Begich's television ads, which began running July 8; the Rasmussen survey was done nine days later.

There's this, too: "Normally, an Alaska Republican in trouble could count on some help from the top of the ticket. In its entire history, Alaska has voted for a Democratic Presidential candidate just once, and that was forty-four years ago. This year, however, John McCain holds just a single-digit lead over Barack Obama in Alaska," the poll's authors wrote.

The poll also asks about Gov. Sarah Palin. Sixty-nine percent said she was doing a good or excellent job.

And in yet another poll, commissioned by the left-leaning DailyKos website by the nonpartisan Research 2000, shows Rep. Don Young in trouble. Here's a link.

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7 July 24, 2008 - 12:33am | staunchconservative

It's time for Stevens to go

As a republican I am supporting David Cuddy for Alaska's U.S. Senate Seat. He is the only significant challenger to Ted Stevens in the primaries. Stevens will probably loose the general election because of his scandals and corruption charges. Any republican other then Stevens has good chance defeating Begich. The Democrats are actually hoping Stevens will run and are worried about David Cuddy.

6 July 23, 2008 - 2:00pm | daisy5527

Begich Comercials

This article attributes the results to Begich's commercials. I will refrain from being sarcastic regarding which politician(s) should go through a car wash. Here is an account of "bizarre" and "insane" actions of the municipality:(These words were used by members of the Board of Equalization during Hearing #110 on May 8 , 2008). Our property and home have been flooded for years by a road/dam permitted by the MOA over wetlands without a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. This road was a 17-ft. high mud dam which diverts the headwaters of Furrow Creek onto our property and into our home. The MOA did issue "An Order of Abatement" which would have removed the dam. For four years, we have taken pictures of the flooding and letters in to the mayor's office. We could never get an appointment with him. We did get a call from his office in 2005, assuring us that the dam would be removed that summer. It is still there. We have changed carpet three times in our bedrooms, after stepping into four inches of water. We are regularly paying $110 to have our drain field pumped--this is water which should be going into Furrow Creek. We cannot sell our home without a health certificate from the MOA, which we cannot get because of their negligence. The MOA appraiser says that our property would be worth $433,800 without the flooding problem, but it is appraised at $168,800 . In spite of these years of frustration, we have continued to pay our taxes because it is the right thing to do. Getting back to the "car wash"commercial--the mayor (or members of his staff who handled this problem) would have to go through MANY car washes before they felt as WET as we do --ALL THE TIME! This is the "tip of the iceberg" of this problem. For more info (or a solution to our problem) email me at yahoo. com. BTW, my husband is an 83-year- old World War II Navy veteran. The mayor says "We must take care of our veterans".

5 July 22, 2008 - 1:51pm | corafl

What questions

were ask on the poll and what answer could you give?

July 22, 2008 - 4:14pm | fchrist

Polls

The first question was how are you going to vote? Democrat or republican? He stated republican because he felt indebted to them for all that they have done for Alaska. That's when the poll ended.

4 July 22, 2008 - 11:39am | fchrist

Polls

I find this interesting because my father, who is a registered democrat recieved a call a few days ago asking him to take a poll. The guy never gave his name or who he was polling for. He started by asking who he would be voting for and when my dad stated his allegiance to Stevens and Young, the pollster quickly ended his poll stating we have too many Republican pollee's already. My dad asked why they weren't going to finish the poll and the guy hung up. Begs to question the results of some of these so called polls. The real poll will come in November.

3 July 22, 2008 - 10:07am | tommcgrath

Polls

Anyone can conduct a poll. Some I believe, some I don't. Dittman is the pollster that is generally right and I haven't seem results from him yet. I look forward to the only poll that matters and that is theone done on Election Day by voters.
The Begich ads tell a good story and I would vote for the guy portrayed in the ads but that guy doesn't really exist if you look at his record.
The Municipal budget has gone from 288 million to 427 million in five years, a fifty percent increase. Most Municipal utility rates have gone through the roof. His Mountain View experiment is a bust. His energy record is suspect. He touted snow removal five years ago using natural gas but he is still moving snow with diesel dump trucks and most of our Municipal fleet and especially the Fire Departments fleet is a tribute to the Hummer and other very large very fuel effiecient vehicles. The Museum and the Convention Center capitol projects are being built but projects built in past years are falling into disrepair. He flip flopped on the IM testing. The list of failures go on and on.

July 22, 2008 - 10:13am | Stags_Leap

the Palin-Parnell operating budget is much worse

it saw 23% growth in just the first fiscal year of this administration. Your Begich numbers -taken out of context, are over a 5-6 year period. I would hate to see what the growth in the state's operating budget under Palin-Parnell looks like in that same timeframe. It makes Begich look like a fiscal conservative.

July 22, 2008 - 10:22am | tommcgrath

Context

The Begich budget did increase 50% in five years. The Mayor's budget is almost in a vacumn (the Assembly generally does not change the Mayor's budget by more than 1%) unlike the Governor's where the legislature plays a large roll. Does that excuse a 23% budget increase. No it does not but I commented on Begich and changing the subject to another does not excuse what he has done.

July 22, 2008 - 10:39am | Stags_Leap

comment on the Assembly

who certainly had leverage over the Mayor's budgets....just like the Legislature has leverage over the Governor's budget. Until the 2008 elections -the Anchorage Assembly had a majority of conervative Republicans on it.

July 22, 2008 - 10:45am | TheSdog

C'mon stags

Marky Mark does things like threaten to take essential things like fire fighters while leaving fluff. Remember that?

COB policy is to make sure and spend on trails and flowers and then cry to the public about how they do not have money for public safety.

Then if the people try and stop you from collecting taxes to pay for your pet projects you do some creative accounting with the tax cap and write more traffic tickets.

July 22, 2008 - 11:02am | Stags_Leap

and the Governor fires people

when anyone complains. So what's your point?

July 22, 2008 - 8:51pm | TheSdog

And Marky Mark

keeps the person and hires two other people to work with the person. Of course, "work" is a relative term. Most of them get really good at playing Minesweeper on their city computers.

July 23, 2008 - 8:43am | Stags_Leap

Begich -suggestion

should bring Monegan on-board his campaign at some level. That would help him get the pro-law enforcement vote.

July 23, 2008 - 9:50am | rfn

Couldn't hurt.

Mayor Mawk already has secured the spiritualist vote with his campaign commercial.

July 22, 2008 - 11:10am | rayrocks

Begich is a liberal

with a documented record of tax-and-spend policies that have resulted in:

1- higher property taxes;
2- huge growth in municipal government;
3- rising crime

That's the point.

July 22, 2008 - 12:11pm | Stags_Leap

Palin and Parnell are even more liberal

and they espouse socialist views. They have grown government by 23% in Year One, and raised taxes on industry by BILLIONS. Like I said before, the Club for Growth must not have gotten the RINO memo on these two.

Begich is a fiscal conservative next to these two. The Anchorage Assembly played their part in your property tax increases.

Begich is ethical, unlike some perennial candidates who create conspiracy theories to support their own personal political ambitions.

July 22, 2008 - 12:16pm | rfn

Ah!

Appears you will be voting in the Democrat Party primary to support the high-taxing, union-boosting, Liberal boy mayor. Of course that means (assuming no voter fraud intended), losing the opportunity to vote for your Hero, the conservative Don Young, in the Republican primary. Tough choice, eh?

Oh well, makes it a little easier for Parnell to win and keep the box score from becoming:

California 54
Alaska 0

July 22, 2008 - 12:50pm | Stags_Leap

Parnell is NOT from Alaska

your conspiracy theory isn't even believable...sigh. Parnell offers the state nothing -other than a record of raising taxes and growing government. He is simply riding Palin's coat-tails....and those coat-tails don't have much fuel left to carry the little guy.

Parnell is supported by the Club for Growth -which is an anti-senior citizen group that's full of a bunch of east coast Wall Street executives.

July 23, 2008 - 5:45am | pixieteeth

Parnell does things for others

String pullers from out of state. Just what Alaska "needs". "They" like us better if we don't have rights (like the fourth admendment).

July 22, 2008 - 1:04pm | rayrocks

Begich is a liberal

who raised property taxes, expanded municipal government, and let crime rates rise.

I don't believe he is running against either Palin or Parnell, so I'm not sure what your point is. As usual.

But it's clear that lefties like Begich and Berkowitz will have a hard time getting electoral traction with any voters who like lower taxes and less government.

July 22, 2008 - 12:54pm | rfn

Listen up:

Nobody is claiming that Parnell was born in Alaska.

It's just that he'd represent Alaska's interests in Congress; not California's. Of course his winning the primary will deny Don Young the chance to raise gasoline taxes as you desire but that's the price of progress. Remember, if Alaska becomes Californicated people wearing even faux wolverine will be spattered with paint by the wild-eyed. Regardless whether the wearers are wild-eyed themselves.

Sorry, Staggs, t must never become:

California 54
Alaska 0

July 22, 2008 - 1:58pm | Stags_Leap

Parnell is NOT from Alaska

enough said...

55 Stags

0 rfn

July 22, 2008 - 7:51pm | Cartman3_15

Sean Parnell

is the only choice for Alaskans tired of business as usual in Washington.

He has an established record of thoughtful conservatism from his long tenure in the legislature, including distinguished service as co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee during some fiscally challenging times for the state.

The state's ability to survive and, indeed, thrive through lean times when oil was $9 a barrel has much to do with leadership provided by Parnell in the legislature.

We can expect no less from him in Congress.

July 22, 2008 - 3:28pm | rfn

However

Don Young remains a factor and those who favor him and his gasoline taxing policies have more in common with the boy mayor than with a solid conservative like Mr. Parnell.

Sorry, Staggs.....if you like the tax idea you gotta buy Mr. Young along with it. It's a package deal only.

July 22, 2008 - 3:40pm | Stags_Leap

Parnell is Pro-Tax

look at the Palin-Parnell MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR tax increase on the oil industry. That is not a conservative position.

You still haven't explained the Palin-Parnell 23% growth in the state's operating budget in Year One.

Begich and Berkowtiz are fiscal conservatives next to Palin and Parnell.

July 22, 2008 - 3:55pm | rayrocks

Liberal Begich grew government

by 50 percent during his time as mayor AND presided over skyrocketing property taxes. Crime has gone up, too. This is why he has no chance of being elected.

Last time I checked, 50 percent growth was more than double 23 percent growth. No one but a truly blind partisan hack like you would continue to insist that this record somehow qualifies as "conservative" while decrying a genuinely conservative record as "liberal."

I understand your obsessive need to pump up crooked Don. The only chance your other candidate -- tax-and-spender Berkowitz -- has is if Parnell isn't in the race. Clearly, that's not going to happen.

By all means, though, please continue to embarrass yourself with your deluded posts. I totally appreciate the opportunity to keep pointing out your ignorance.

July 22, 2008 - 3:53pm | rfn

The tax on oil profits

was indeed a stupid thing.

It's based on easily manipulated profit figures. The tax should have been levied on the gross and I'm still sore at the governor for not having vetoed this wimpy substitute and demanded it be done properly. The rate would not have to have been high to obtain the same - or even more - revenue as the manipulation would be impossible.

I also dislike the growth of state government but since the means is in place to finance it, well, grin and bear it. It'll shrink when the depression we so sorely need comes upon us with the arrival of the days of obamanation.

But Begich being a conservative? OK, if you like what you're paying for parking then maybe he is. If you dance in giddy glee when you open your property tax bill (you DO own more than a skimpy bit of faux-fur?) then maybe he's conservative.

The San Francisco Treat, however, has not had his hands on the taxing levers. Does that cause them to itch? I dunno....but I'm sure you do, what with supporting Don Young and his legendary tax on gasoline.

No, we cannot afford to donate Alaska's sole congressional seat to California. They already have fifty three (that's 53), of their own. We could hold onto it by re-electing Don Young so Mr. Parnell would be free for other things. Who knows, maybe he would pay attention to the idea of revising the petroleum tax to go for the gross!

July 22, 2008 - 2:17pm | rayrocks

Begich is still an ultra-liberal

who raised property taxes, expanded municipal government, and let crime rates rise.

I appreciate the opportunity to point all this out again. By all means, please keep your two-bit smokescreens coming.

July 23, 2008 - 5:49am | pixieteeth

Do you mean Begich is compassionate?

What's wrong with that, exactly? Should we not be compassionate toward the infirm and the powerless? Or should we hate monger and hate the poor? Do you know that the damage done to the American dollar when compared to the Euro can NEVER be repaired? How do you like dem apples?

July 22, 2008 - 11:14am | rfn

Despite all this documented

proof, Staggs will continue to spew his one-track anti-Palin venom. To reply to him/her/it is merely to afford a new opportunity to vent.

Meanwhile, when next I get to Seattle-North, I'll try to arrange to take the 3-hour tour. I can use a good laugh now and then and this promises to be a barrel of them!

2 July 22, 2008 - 8:59am | blue_in_AK

The Kos House poll is disingenuous in the extreme

in that it assumes that the nominees will be Don Young and Ethan Berkowitz. I'm sure he knows that Don and Ethan are opposed in their respective primaries, yet he pushes his own particular favorite match-up. I take it with a grain of salt.

1 July 22, 2008 - 8:56am | Stags_Leap

Polls

I'd like to see a Republican Primary Poll for Young, Parnell, and LeDoux.....

I'd also like to see new popularity poll numbers for our governor.

July 22, 2008 - 12:43pm | heman

The gov popularity just went

The gov popularity just went up 10 points. no only 5. when your at 95 there is no place to go.

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