Tony Knowles expected to announce candidacy for Senate today

[CMT]

Former Alaska Governor Tony Knowles is expected to announce he is in the race for US Senate today. This will be one of the big Senate Races to decide which party controls the chamber. His opponent, Rep Sen. Lisa Murkowski was appointed to the seat by her father when he was elected governor--with the nepotism angering many Alaskans.

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/3424323p-3454960c.html

[pmbryant]

1. woohoo!

:toast:

Go Tony!

--Peter

[davidinalameda]

2. cool!

we could very easily pick up that seat!

wonder what it would be like to work on a Senate campaign in Alaska?

[kwolf68]

3. A Democrat from Alaska?

I still like saying that just to get a chuckle. Good luck Tony.

[goobergunch]

4. Given the Murkowski family's tumbling approval ratings...

this should be a very close race. CALL: TOSS-UP.

[jiacinto]

5. This is good news

But Knowles faces a daunting task here. He is running for Senate in a state that votes heavily Republican. The last Democrat to win office for the US Senate in Alaska was Mike Gravel in 1974. Given how AK votes heavily Republican in presidenital years it is obvious that Knowles will have to depend on significant ticket splitting to win.

Granted Knowles is our best shot in years to win a Senate race in Alasak; but, at best, he starts out with an even chance. And Murkowski starts out as the very slight favorite.