Will Stevens retain his seat in November? I'm not joking, isn't he a permanent fixture

[AlinPA]

in Alaska?

[Blue_In_AK]

1. If he does, I'll be extremely surprised.

Anchorage's mayor Mark Begich, who will most likely be his Democratic opponent (if Ted makes it out of the primary), is quite popular, and was running even or slightly ahead of Stevens even before this indictment. I think Ted is toast, as is Don Young.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Ted Stevens was trailing by 9 points last week.

His career as a politician is over.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/alaska/election_2008_alaska_senate

[AlinPA]

12. Thanks, it sounds like we have a chance. nt

[spanone]

3. larry craig...but this is 7 FELONY COUNTS....

[billyoc]

4. They can simulcast his screeds to the Senate floor from the pen.

[Renew Deal]

5. There will be no President pro tempore emeritus

if Stevens is bounced.

[depakid]

6. My question is: now that he's been indicted, can the Republicans replace him on the ballot?

[Blue_In_AK]

8. He already had two Republican challengers

on the ballot for the primary, which will be held August 26. The deadline for filing was in June.

[depakid]

13. Ah, so he could lose the primary- and Republicans can retain the seat

That explains the timing of the indictment....

[Blue_In_AK]

14. Not likely.

They are both relatively unknown, one of them having only lived in the state since JANUARY (not even long enough to get a permanent fund check, haha), and Mark Begich, as Anchorage's current mayor, has a much higher profile. I think the Dems will take it.

[ellacott]

7. James Trafficant of Ohio ran for re-election while in prison

He lost. If he had won Congress said they would pass a law forcing him to resign. Since he lost I'm not sure if it went through with the bill.

It's amazing that a felon can hold office but they can't vote in many states.

[Renew Deal]

9. They wouldn't pass a law

They would have impeached him. It never happened. It's standard House procedure. They can remove one of their own.

[ellacott]

11. The did vote to expel him but he ran as an independent

His one complication is that the prison is out of state from his congressional district. If he had won there are no laws on the books he preclude him from serving.

This is an interesting link:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa081402a.htm

[Kermitt Gribble]

10. Didn't you hear?

He admitted to his alcohol problem and has been forgiven by the Lawud so there should be no question whether he is fit to hold office.