WP: Alaska Governor Battles a Shifting Tide

[kskiska]

Despite Strong Political Past, Murkowski Slips to Third in the Polls Heading Into Tuesday's GOP Gubernatorial Primary

ANCHORAGE -- Gov. Frank H. Murkowski (R) left Washington four years ago to serve as Alaska's chief executive and what he hoped would be a gratifying capstone to his many years in public service. He now faces an ignominious end to that long political career as he struggles to avoid defeat in Tuesday's Republican gubernatorial primary.

Murkowski's early campaign commercials told the story of his problems. In one television ad, his wife, Nancy, admits that he's a stubborn man. A newspaper ad had him suggesting that he needed a personality transplant. A radio jingle to the tune of Merle Haggard's ballad "Okie From Muskogee," available on his Web site, ends with: "He might not win awards for his charisma, but Alaska's gonna need Frank in '06."

A defeat on Tuesday would make him the fourth incumbent to lose a primary election this month.
Murkowski spent 22 years in the Senate, rising to chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where he battled unsuccessfully to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, fought to prevent bans on logging in the Tongass National Forest with limited success and championed a natural gas pipeline that would bring the state's gas reserves to the Midwest.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/20/AR2006082000594.html

[bluestateguy]

1. This isn't good

Every poll I have seen matching up Knowles with any of the other Republicans has the Republican winning.

[theanarch]

2. shhhh...don't tell Florida Republicans...

...might put some dangerous, if second, thoughts in their otherwise benighted minds about voting for Harris in the 9/12 GOP primary...

[harpboy_ak]

3. It's Halcro Tony needs to worry about

Palin may well win the primary, but she's too far to the right, especially the religious right, for many centrist voters. The one Tony needs to worry about is Andrew Halcro, running as an independent. He reminds me of the late Lt. Gov. Terry Miller, who was a Repug because he came from a major Repug family. Halcro couldn't stomach the lockstep crap in the House Repug caucus, and was appalled at Murkowski's arrogance. He could do very well in a 3 way race.