Stevens goes soft with clout

[Judi Lynn]

Stevens goes soft with clout
SENATE: Politician plays his role with care in Washington state race.

By BLAINE HARDEN
The Washington Post

Published: April 21, 2006
Last Modified: April 21, 2006 at 01:40 AM

TACOMA, Wash. -- As he pushed his way into the Senate race in Washington state last week, U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska did not wear the "Incredible Hulk" necktie that on Capitol Hill signals his readiness for close-quarters combat.

The Senate's longest-serving Republican sounded more wistful than wound up. Stevens reminisced about an era when he could trust Democratic senators from Washington state. He recalled that late senators Warren G. Magnuson and Henry "Scoop" Jackson had "adopted" him and had always done right by Alaska.
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Fond memory, though, has given way to bad blood between Alaska and Washington -- and Stevens blames much of it on Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who faces re-election this fall. She has led Democratic opposition to Stevens's long-frustrated crusade for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
(snip)

In the past year, Cantwell's knack for getting Stevens' goat has won widespread attention across this Democratic-leaning state, garnered favorable local news coverage, partially drowned out the campaign of her formidable Republican challenger and, polls suggest, may help her win re-election.
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