Does Gravel vs. Stevens 2008 make any sense?

[wuushew]

Similar ages, both have served as Alaskan Senators.

His campaign organization could be easily converted into a Sentate run apparatus.

We have already run retirees based on the Lautenberg model.

[Ian David]

1. That would be interesting. n/t

[ISUGRADIA]

2. Mark Begich, mayor of Anchorage

is a much more likely candidate. I don't think Gravel has lived in Alaska for years.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Mark is a more likely candidate...

...although there are some issues swirling around him, too, with all the corruption clean-up going on up here, questionable real estate deals, etc. Maybe a lot of to-do about nothing, but the questions are out there.

Former State House minority leader, Ethan Berkowitz, is another possibility. He has been mentioned as a candidate for Don Young's seat, but with two Dems having already declared for that spot, he may want to shoot for Ted's.

[ISUGRADIA]

10. It's good that there is a field of candidates considering running

for the House and Senate there. After what will be 28 years of Repub only congressional delegation it would be nice to have a Dem from Alaska in congress

[cali]

3. no. Stevens won't be running n/t

[wuushew]

4. James Trafficant ran as an independent from prison

and received 15% of the vote.

[radiclib]

5. No. Gravel is a cantankerous old crackpot

We can do better.

[Rageneau]

6. We can't do better in ALASKA, can we? Gravel sounds good to me.

I disagree. I sincerely doubt that we, the Democrats, could do better than running Mike Gravel for Alaska Senate.

Yes, he's cantakerous, but he's hardly a crackpot. He and Kuchinich agree on almost every point. Is Dennis a crackpot? The answer to that -- if one is opposed to or fears Dennis -- is "Yes, he is."

But he's not, and neither is Gravel.

On the contrary, Gravel is honest and straightforward and courageous is saying what he thinks.

Which, in politics, might indeed make him a crackpot.

[radiclib]

7. Maybe you're right about Alaska

but, by the same token, wouldn't what Gravel's candidacy has promoted put him further out of the "mainstream" than he was when he served? Also, maybe the 'crackpot' characterization was unwarranted, but his 'Fair Tax' scheme and vouchers for health care seem pretty ill-conceived. He was on Malloy a while back, and couldn't explain himself very coherently, and chose instead to talk down to Mike.

[ISUGRADIA]

11. First he'd have to move back after a 27 year absence

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. I'd rather see Gravel as president than senator.

But, in this case, I'd be glad to see Mike back in the senate.