Alaska Troubles for John McCain

by Jonathan Singer, Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 09:24:54 PM EST

It's never a good sign when a party's top surrogate in a state talks up the standard-bearer of the other party. Think Gordon Smith trying to cozy up to Barack Obama and John Kerry in his latest ad campaign -- a sign not only that the Republican Senator believes that he is in jeopardy in Oregon but also that the Beaver state really isn't in play on the presidential level this year, either.

Oregon isn't the only state in which this is occurring for the Republicans. Take a look at what's going on in Alaska:

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin -- occasionally mentioned as a McCain vice presidential prospect -- has put out a press release praising Obama's energy plan.

Alaska energy politics seem to trump national politics here, though it's also interesting to see a red(dish) state Republican so willing to associate herself with the Democratic nominee.

"I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska's natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs," Palin says in the release. "The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs."

This story says quite a bit about the state of affairs in Alaska. The sitting GOP Governor, who prior to the new investigation into her alleged improprieties sported an 80 percent favorable rating, finds that she needs to sidle up to the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in a state whose electoral votes have gone Republican in the last 10 elections... that can't be good.

Does this mean that Alaska is already a swing state on the presidential level? Not necessarily. But this move by Palin says at least as much about the politics in the state today -- the rise of the Democrats, particularly Obama, and the decline of the GOP -- as does the composite of recent polling, which shows McCain with an unimpressive 49 percent to 42.9 percent lead over his Democratic rival.




Tags: AK-Pres, White House 2008, Alaska (all tags)

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Re: Alaska Troubles for John McCain (none / 0)

Guess that takes Palin out of the veepstakes.


by RT on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 09:45:26 PM EST

McCain is against drilling there, Obama is for it (none / 0)

From her press release:
In a speech given in Lansing, Michigan, Senator Obama called for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, stating, "Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process."

by catfish2 on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 10:02:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain is against drilling there, (2.00 / 1)

You think McCain opposes drilling in areas federally set aside for drilling? Do you play with blocks?


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by X Stryker on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:46:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain is against drilling there, (none / 0)

X Stryker:

I do not think they can reach the blocks, yet. HAHA! Plus, who do these guys think they are, their analysis is reaching at best, and commentator's (Jonathan Whoever) failure is laughable.

Yarrr!


by MyPIRATE on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:47:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Alaska Troubles for John McCain (none / 0)

Talking about Gordon Smith and Vulnerability , he is actually leading by 12 points in the new surveyusa poll ,

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollRepo rt.aspx?g=bae17f79-860b-4401-a25b-bf872e d6db69

If that is the case , i don't know if he is that vulnerable.

Maybe Obama needs to campaign with Merkley .

I don't think Obama would do much campaigning in Oregon because it is basically locked up at the presidential level, but that has to hurt Merkley .


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 09:49:27 PM EST

That reserve is close to ANWR (none / 0)

Obama talked about Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve:

The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska[1] (NPR-A) is an area of land in the Alaska North Slope owned by the United States Federal Government. It lies to the west of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is also federally owned land on the North Slope. At a size of 23.5 million acres (95,000 km²), it has been described as "the largest tract of undisturbed public land in the United States" (the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is 19 million acres (77,000 km²)) and includes a point 120 miles (190 km) from the nearest village or driveable road. Inupiat Eskimos live in several villages around its perimeter, the largest of which is Barrow, the seat of North Slope Borough.


by catfish2 on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 10:00:24 PM EST

Re: Alaska Troubles for John McCain (none / 0)

Assuming Obama wins, which I must do to remain sane, I can't think of any more fitting rebuke to Republican rule than to turn Alaska blue - with both its electoral votes and a brand new Senator to replace one of the right's most established Senatorial institutions.

Also - don't you love it when scandal hits the Republicans in just the right spot at just the right time? Looks like the Republican lock on Alaska is heading down the tubes har har har...


www.thingsyoungerthanmccain.com
by LandStander on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 12:33:52 AM EST

Re: Alaska Troubles for John McCain (2.00 / 1)

Very interesting but I don't think MacCain has much to worry about in Alaska.  It's more about local politics.


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by PoliticalX on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 12:34:04 AM EST

Re: Alaska Troubles for John McCain (none / 0)

isn't this a bit overblown? one line praising something Obama did doesn't exactly mean Palin has turned her back on the GOP.

but who knows..


by CalDem on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 01:18:55 AM EST

Maybe this is is dumb question (none / 0)

but are Alaskans in general less likely to support drilling in ANWAR than the US population?


by semiquaver on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 01:21:27 AM EST

Re: Maybe this is is dumb question (2.00 / 1)

more. Much, much, much more.


by Trowaman on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:51:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]


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