Dems see hope of regaining senate seat in Alaska

[book_worm]

Democrats believe they can secure their first all-Democratic Senate delegation from Alaska in 40 years, with their once-overlooked nominee making a late charge and claiming the momentum is in his favor in a heated three-way contest.



One major showing of faith: The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has poured more than $160,000 into the race, most of that late as candidate Scott McAdams has worked to convince independents and on-the-fence Democrats that he can beat U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and GOP primary winner and tea party favorite Joe Miller. Murkowski is running as a write-in candidate.

"We believe that Scott McAdams actually has a real chance of winning this race. Mr. Miller has obviously plummeted because it's about ideology versus about Alaska," Sen. Robert Menendez, of New Jersey, said Sunday on ABC.

Part of what's turned more Democrats into believers is the dynamics of the hotly contested race that analysts and staffers for the campaigns see as capable of going to any of the three major contenders. Part, too, lies with McAdams proving he's more than the token candidate that even some of the party faithful took him for when he won the nomination in August.

McAdams has filled town halls and raised more than $1 million, all while touting support for Democratic positions that some candidates this cycle have run from, including the federal stimulus plan and efforts to overhaul health care, abortion rights, and equal rights for gays and lesbians.

"Scott's not preaching, he's just honest" about his positions, said spokeswoman Heather Handyside, who described his town halls and meet-and-greets as "game changers" for some who attend.

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, who's headlined fundraisers for McAdams and lent staff to his campaign, said there's no "phoney baloney stuff" with McAdams. "I've become a believer, far beyond, He's just a Democrat."

McAdams' campaign believes it's done everything it could have _ avoided major stumbles, fared well in debates and raised enough money to stay on the airwaves in the race's waning days.

http://www.kjonline.com/news/ap?articleID=5685036

[Valienteman]

1. How many points is McAdams away from Murkowski?

Does anyone know?

[customerserviceguy]

2. Plenty

This is just extremely wishful thinking. It's a matter of whether Murkowski can pull off her write-in candidacy, that's all. The shenannigans up there in Alaska really throw a monkey wrench in both pollsters' predictions, and the pace of the final count.

My prediction is that we won't have an inkling as to how this all turns out until near the end of the week. It will take that long to examine a substantial number of the write-in ballots, and I expect Miller and Murkowski to be fairly even when the bulk of them are in, in a day or two after the election.

[roguevalley]

8. you understimate how hated lisa is. Miller is tanking and even

cons don't like his lies.

[customerserviceguy]

9. All I'm saying is

that the Republicons had this one in the bag months ago, it's just a matter of whether it's the sore loser Murkowski, or the criminal tea partier Miller that gets in. The Democratic candidate here never really had a chance.

[roguevalley]

12. They have no data on the cell phone users and a lot of the

outlying areas. Anything is possible.

[book_worm]

3. One poll has Miller in third place with McAdams at 29 and Murkowski at 34

[Cognitive_Resonance]

6. Alaska is notoriously difficult to poll, and they are often wrong. McAdams has a good shot. nt

[vaberella]

7. He's about 7 or so points. Keep in mind that's if people write in her name. n/t

[Stuart G]

10. I don't think anyone really does know...

Last time the Democrat came from behind at the last minute.
.. No one knew then, and no one knows now. It is fluid there. All polls I have seen give Miller a very high percent of the vote. 35-37. Perhaps that is true, perhaps not. If the Democrat could win last time, there is a chance he can win this time.

[Pirate Smile]

4. Dana Bash just tweeted that "Woah. Lisa murkowski just made really clear to our drew griffin in

alaska republicans can't count on her to be w them."

[Marsala]

5. Great. Maybe we can trade Lieberman for her

Or keep Lieberman and take her, which would be better. Or get McAdams, which would be the best. But the idea of trading Lieberman for a former Republican senator who left the same way as him is pretty amusing.

[karynnj]

11. Liberman has voted with us FAR FAR more often than Murkowski even thought of doing so

I never thought I would defend Lieberman, but he is head and shoulders above Murkowski. This is incredibly so on the environment, where Lieberman's LCV life time score is up there with John Kerry's. To put it in context, where Lieberman has worked to pass good legislation, Murkowski was the lead sponsor on a bill to take away the EPA's authority on carbon emissions.

On the issues where we all have problems with Lieberman, like Iraq, she is no better.

[roguevalley]

13. You cannot underestimate the revenge and rage limits on a

murkrapski