Alaska: Knowles to run for governor again

[skipos]

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7780076p-7693042c.html

"Former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles said Monday that he will run for a new term."

"In an interview with The Associated Press, the two-term Democrat invoked Alaska's only three-term governor, fellow Democrat Bill Egan, who returned to office in 1970 for the final planning of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System."

"Also Monday, House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz, D-Anchorage, said he would abandon his own gubernatorial campaign to run for lieutenant governor alongside Knowles."

"In Alaska, a person can serve a third term as governor if it does not immediately follow the previous two. Knowles was elected governor in 1994 and again in 1998."

[Toots]

1. I believe Alaska is getting all new Diebold machines before the election

Democrats have been asking for the 2004 election material for two years to go over and check for errors but the Republicans who have total control in Alaska have denied them access to those records even though they are public records. Democrats don't stand a chance in that place. It is one of the most corrupt states in the Union.

[skipos]

2. They use Diebold in Virginia and we managed to win there

I know there are many Diebold Defeatists here on DU, but I am not one of them.

[snowbear]

3. They'll only be one screen-touch in each primary location..

..and those are for disabled voters only according to the local press.

We already have Diebold accuvote machines statewide. But one thing to remember is that the dirtball that won't release the 2004 U.S. Senate results (Lt. Governor Loren Leman) is not running again. He's too stressed out with the lawsuit against him by state Democrats and just wants OUT.

I'm not so sure the Rethugs here will tamper with Diebold right now. They are pretty spooked by the pending lawsuit. They weren't as worried until Diebold themselves stepped in and told them to release the data files. Loren Leman still refused to do it and the Democratic Party is suing his ass off.

With that lawsuit hanging over them, I'm not so sure they'll do that again. :scared: Especially when Knowles will probably rock in the polls. We recently held a mayoral election, and our Democratic mayor won by a landslide (on Diebold accuvote machines) .. so they didn't tamper with them then.

Tony Knowles is extremely popular in Alaska with members of all political parties and should easily win. He was mayor of Anchorage for 2-terms and Governor for 2-terms. It's great to see him running for a third term!

[Blue_In_AK]

5. I think Tony (or Eric Croft if he stays in) can win in a walk, frankly...

The Republican party is pretty divided, it seems, and I don't think Murky stands a chance in the Republican primary. I was amazed he had the arrogance to even run again with his popularity in the tank. If Binkley takes it, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sarah Palin's supporters go to Halcro or Tony. If Sarah wins the primary, I wouldn't feel too bad about it because even though she's a Republican, she at least has some ethics.

I personally don't think the Republicans have as much of a lock on Alaska as people Outside tend to think. Mark's showing in the mayor's race was extremely gratifying.

[snowbear]

8. Hi Blue!

I'm thinking Eric may back out and let Tony take center stage..

I guess we'll have to wait and see.. but since it's for one term, I think Eric will step aside and let Knowles and Berkowitz take it.

<- Tony Knowles ~ Ethan Berkowitz -> ~

~~~~~~~ (( ))

[Blue_In_AK]

11. It really does make things easier for us Alaska dems

because I was pretty torn between the other two, although I was leaning towards Ethan. I love the way both Eric and Ethan have stood up to Frank on so many issues, especially this natural gas, PPT thing and the methajuana bill (what a piece of crap THAT one is). I think we need to educate the Outside DUers on what good Democrats we have in Alaska because it seems a lot of people think that the party has just rolled over here, which I don't see at all.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. KTUU reported tonight that Eric's staying in...

He thinks he can be more aggressive on the natural gas pipeline than Tony.

[Zynx]

4. Knowles should stomp Murkowski.

[Blue_In_AK]

6. See my post above...

I don't think Murkowski will even make it out of the primary. He has strong opposition.

[Zynx]

10. I see. I have to imagine he has stained all Alaskan Republicans with

his stench.

[Blue_In_AK]

14. The only Republican in the race

who probably is unsullied by Frank's stench is Sarah Palin, who has very publicly stood up against him and his corrupt cronies on numerous occasions re their (lack of) ethics. If you don't know, she's the former Mayor of Wasilla, and a very attractive candidate for the anybody-but-Frank Republican crowd and probably a lot of independents.

[snowbear]

7. Yep.. Murky's approval rating is something like 14%...

..according to local polls in Anchorage. Probably a tad higher (18%?) up in Fairbanks..

[Zynx]

9. Maybe he could get 25% up in the bumblefuck areas of the state.

[snowbear]

12. The only town he may win in is........

Chicken, Alaska... and the population there is only 17. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken,_Alaska

......... (( ))

By the way: Rumor has it that the town named it "Chicken" because no one there could spell Ptarmigan (the state bird)

[Blue_In_AK]

13. You're too funny, Larissa...

If my memory serves me, I believe that Tony is very popular with the Natives out in the villages, he's popular here in Anchorage, and he's popular in Juneau. Fairbanks might be iffy, but I really think he can win this going away, no matter which Republican he's up against.

[wiley]

15. Yes!