Poll: Big Opening For Dems In Alaska

[babylonsister]

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jun/20/poll_big_opening_for_dems_in_alaska

Poll: Big Opening For Dems In Alaska
By Eric Kleefeld | bio

National Democratic strategists are eyeing Alaska as a state ripe for a major pickup in 2008 — and a new poll of the state's voters suggests that Dems have some reason to be optimistic about making a big gain there.

National Dems have been working overtime to recruit Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich to run for Congress in 2008 — either against powerhouse Senator Ted Stevens or against Representative Don Young. While snatching Stevens' Senate seat obviously would be a bigger coup, knocking off Young would be a more than decent prize, too.

Now a new poll suggests that both GOP targets may be a good deal more vulnerable than initially thought.

The new survey, from the Alaska firm Hays Research, finds that Stevens, who at nearly 40 years of Senate service is a veritable state institution, has slipped below the 50% approval rating mark into the danger zone. He has a 46%-36% approval, lowered in large part because of an ethics investigation against himself plus another targeting his son Ben, a state Senator.

Young, for his part, is not faring much better. Young has a statistically even rating, at 40% positive to 41% negative.

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[Renew Deal]

1. Stevens and Young are two of the most despicable people in congress

It doesn't get much worse.

[Hart2008]

2. How about running Gravel against Stevens? Gravel is younger! n/t

[Greeby]

3. Stevens arrived in the Senate a month after Gravel

Gravel won the election in November 68. In December, Alaska's other senator, Democrat Bob Bartlett, died. Stevens was appointed to replace him

[Bitwit1234]

4. I do not for the life of me understand why

these republicans would vote for people that they know are absolute crooks. Why. It is a shame that republicans put party before their country.

[JeffR]

5. Hard to believe Young's rating is that high

He's not fit to shine Diane Benson's shoes. If I remember correctly, she's decided she will take him on again in '08. I hope she smokes the old coot like a salmon.

(This message brought to you by Floridians-in-exile for Benson '08!):patriot:

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Thank you, JeffR...

Yes, indeed, Diane is running again, and if Mark does get in, I hope to God he runs for Stevens' seat instead of Young's because after Diane's great showing last year, I really want to see her have another crack at it. Actually, we have a couple of other potential candidates who are being discussed, former State representatives Ethan Berkowitz and Eric Croft, both of whom would be excellent choices. I don't remember a time when we had more good Democrats running than we have positions open. It's mind-boggling, actually.

With all the investigations going on up here, Stevens AND Young could be in a lot of legal trouble by next November. Things haven't looked this good for Alaska Dems in a long, long time.