Pundits Say (Ted) Stevens is Vulnerable This Time

[Blue_In_AK]

From this morning's Anchorage Daily News http://www.adn.com/front/story/256248.html

U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens hasn't had a close election contest since The Beatles released the White Album and Vince Lombardi was the winning coach in Super Bowl II. Stevens has brushed aside all opponents since 1968. That's the year Gov. Wally Hickel appointed him to the Senate seat that opened when E.L. "Bob" Bartlett died after heart surgery in Cleveland. It's long been conventional wisdom that like Bartlett, who served Alaska in the nation's capital for nearly a quarter century, Stevens would be senator for life. But, for the first time in the lifetime of many Alaskans, there is serious talk "Uncle Ted" could be vulnerable.

"People are watching the race that haven't watched a Ted Stevens race since 1970," said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

<snip>

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich predicts both Stevens and Alaska Congressman Don Young will be gone after 2008.

"The delegation for the first time in decades will have serious competition for those seats," said Begich, 45, who is contemplating a run as a Democrat against the 84-year-old Stevens. "And I do believe those seats will change over."

It's the kind of talk that even a year ago might have been dismissed as pure fantasy. Alaskans have acclaimed Stevens -- the longest serving Republican in the Senate -- with every conceivable honor, up to and including "Alaskan of the Century."

<snip>

Anchorage state Sen. French said Stevens would have a challenge this time articulating what he is going to get done in the next six years that he has not in the past 30-plus years, especially now that the Democrats are in control of the U.S. Senate.

Stevens said in a prepared statement he's still effective, pointing to the hundreds of millions of dollars for Alaska projects in the omnibus spending bill Congress recently passed.

"This campaign will be about who can best fight for Alaskans," Stevens said.



It's going to be an interesting year in Alaska politics.

[nosmokes]

1. If they elect that halfwit to the Senate again I say put em back to territory

status.If they can't put a literate crook in the office like the rest of the 49 can then fuck 'em.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. He may be a halfwit

but what makes this difficult for some Alaskans is that he has, without question, done a lot for the state -- even the Democrats here have to admit that. Unfortunately, he's gotten corrupted in the process. It's definitely time for him to be gone.