Begich

Alaska Dems' number one priority has to be establishing Begich.  In six years, he's going to be a top target.  We need to make him an institution.  We're not going to take this seat; most of the money we could spend there should be spent on direct-mail pieces for Begich.

I really like Mark, and it's going to be a challenge to keep him in office.  Rather than spend money trying to get Tony Knowles elected again, we should really throw our support behind him immediately.

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by: Sean Fitzpatrick @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 17:49:03 PM CST

If Palin is elected to the Sentate in 2010

that could strengthen Begich since he would not have to face her in 2014.

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by: DCal @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 18:02:32 PM CST

[ Parent ]

AK-Sen.

Anyone who thinks the Dems. have even a miniscule chance of winning this AK seat also is delusional and has smoked too much dope. I'd  love for it to happen but no way!!!!!!!!

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by: bklonsky @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 17:55:55 PM CST

As the Boy Scout's say: Be prepared!

You never knew when something is going to happen and a safe seat comes into play.  That's why particularly in Senate races you want a strong candidate.

I actually think the polling reflects the afterglow of Palin's increased celebrity from her vice presidential race.  And Murkowski's similar approval numbers to Palin's shows she'll be a far more formidible candidate in the Republican primary than she is being given credit for.  She also presents a better far more sober and senatorial demeanor than Palin.

But going back to my original point if you do have such a race it would be all the more reason to have a strong Democrat in the race.  If Palin somehow knocked out Murkowski I can completely see Murkowski trying to undermine Palin in the general given the loathing her family has for Palin.

It's unlikely we could win this seat.  But it's only hopeless when you neglect to even try.

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by: Taget @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 21:56:28 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I think Palin will go for it.

The numbers are good, she can't stay away from the spotlight, and Alaskans absolutely hate the Murkowski family. I think now that the GOP seems to be going with the "replace any even remotely human incumbent with a batshit crazy" approach, we're going to see a disproportionate number of incumbents primaried. Of those, this is the one that has the best chance of succeeding. Regardless of the unreliability of the R2K polls in Alaska this cycle, they were all overpredicting Democrats, not underpredicting Republicans, and we already know that Palin is way more popular than any Murkowski by default.

Those of us who breathed a sigh of relief when Begich won because it meant no Senator Palin are going to be very disappointed next year.  

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by: notanothersonofabush @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 18:07:25 PM CST

will palin run for ANYTHING?

if she does want to run for prez in 2012, she may find it difficult to constantly fly between alaska,iowa, south carolina and possibly new hampshire.  all while serving as governor.  she might decide not to run for president so she can move to the lower 48 states.  

being normal is for the mediocre.

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by: doug_tuttle @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 18:12:48 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm sure she would drag Piper along, too.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

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by: TheUnknown285 @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 19:36:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

in the last sentence

i meant governor not prez

being normal is for the mediocre.

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by: doug_tuttle @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 19:48:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Nah...

She's made it pretty obvious that being an "outsider" and "hating the lower 48" are what she's all about, despite the fact that she was, um, born in the lower 48. And she's so incredibly vain and addicted to being in front of the cameras/blowing RNC money on personal junkets that she might go for the seat just as a publicity stunt/to skim RNC cash as a "per diem". Better to have a job in the lower 48 that keeps her in the spotlight, plus taking a crack at another Murkowski might be too tempting for her to pass up.  

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by: notanothersonofabush @ Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 14:40:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

te best chance at protecting begich

assuming palin doesn't run is to make sure ALL the pork that goes to alaska goes through begich, and alaska knows it.  the state will most likely be on a pork diet, so every bit will be important to them, and if the message is sent that the ONLY way to get pork is through begich, it might be enough.  sure stevens lost, but not by much, and alaska will probably  be hungrier forpork after six years of going without.

being normal is for the mediocre.

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by: doug_tuttle @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 18:09:26 PM CST

LOL

Beef...it's not what's for dinner in Alaska?

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

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by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:50:07 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Mooseburgers!

Check out the 2010 California races (http://2010californiaracetracker.wetpaint.com) and help us take back Red California! (http://www.takebackredcalifornia.org)

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by: californianintexas @ Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 02:52:05 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm of two minds with this.

On one hand, getting Palin in there now eliminates the top-tier challenger to Begich in 2014. Granted, we'll have to put up with her 4 years earlier but what the hell? It makes our re-election prospects higher.

On the other hand, Murkowski is a moderate. She votes with us on a handful of economic issues, supports stem-cell research, and will not make a fuss about Obama's judges. Palin, OTOH, has the potential to be Jesse Helms II.

Choices, choices...

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by: Tyler Oakley @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 18:28:36 PM CST

Not Helms, but Paula Hawkins

No. I see a (heaven forbid) Senator Palin being like one-term Senator Paula Hawkins from Florida (who actually somewhat resembled an older Sarah Palin).

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by: dag @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 20:32:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

oh God Paula Hawkins

whatever happened to her. It was like having a Golden Girl in the Senate.  

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

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by: nrafter530 @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 23:07:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Difference

The difference between the two is Paula Hawkins hated the limelight that came with being in the Senate. Palin is a famewhore.

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by: Tyler Oakley @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 23:42:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I Don't See Palin Running

I don't see the logic in Palin running for Senate. If she wants to establish her credentials for a presidential run, she should prove her mettle as an executive and win reelection as governor. She will have a lot more to show and can get a lot more done as the one person in the governor's chair than one out of 100 Senators--and in the minority party at that. Plus being in DC would tarnish her "maverick" "outside the beltway" (waaaaaaay outside) image.

But logic has never seemed the guiding principle for her, so who knows?

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by: dsimon @ Mon Dec 22, 2008 at 22:59:33 PM CST

Honestly...

...seeing Palin beating ANYBODY, even Rod Blagojevich or Attila the Hun in a primary or general, is enough to make me want to throw up.  

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by: CO Democrat @ Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 00:08:49 AM CST

If Palin and Blagoyevich ran against each other for dog-catcher

I'd totally vote Palin for the lulz.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

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by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:48:25 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Hmm, then again

Blagoyevich might try to auction off sub-catcher positions, which could make a tabloid- and internet-meme-worthy mini-scandal.

Hmm, I'm torn about this, actually.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

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by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:49:38 AM CST

[ Parent ]

If I could just will it to be so

If Palin is going to run, I'd have the Dems nominate Murkowski, so if she loses the primary, as she would, she could have a better chance in the general.

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by: tommypaine @ Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:03:22 AM CST

Murkowski

I'd like for Harry Reid to talk to her about the wonderful opportunities that Lisa Murkowski could have if she switched parties to the Democrats.  Lisa is not a conservative, and like tommypaine said, she would probably have an easier time beating Palin in a general election.  The Dems have had more conservative Senators in our caucus than Murkowski in the past, and she probably would not be very far off in mindset than Nelson or Landrieu.

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by: Tarheeman1993 @ Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 14:36:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It wouldn't happen

Murkowski is a moderate, voting patterns similar to Young and Stevens since she's been in the Senate.  But I can't see her ever switching, nor do I think it would help her re-election hopes in 2010 if she did.  Barring some major scandel on Palin's part she would trounce Murkowski if she wanted to be it in the primary or general election.

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by: ChadInFL @ Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 16:18:44 PM CST

[ Parent ]

No need to switch

just vote for cloture on the Employee Free Choice Act and the relatively large union population in Alaska will vote in the Repub primary for Murkowski.

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by: IHateBush @ Wed Dec 24, 2008 at 00:44:28 AM CST

[ Parent ]