Begich 'already plotting' for 2016 run

[Vosem]

Claude Pepper is the most recent and famous example, but Alton Lennon and James Wadsworth did the same thing.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

At least he doesn't think of trying in New Hampshire

[Maxwell]

You say Murkowski stabbed Begich in the back like she owes him anything when she clearly doesn't.

[ShadowRocket]

Does Murkowski run in the Republican primary or as an independent from the get-go? Could Begich win a three-way race against Miller/Treadwell and Murkowski?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

You say Murkowski stabbed Begich in the back like she owes him anything when she clearly doesn't.

Her no means no rhetoric was disgusting. Using a photo of a public official isn't raping them.

[KCDem]

You say Murkowski stabbed Begich in the back like she owes him anything when she clearly doesn't.

Her no means no rhetoric was disgusting. Using a photo of a public official isn't raping them.

Hopefully she gets her ass primaried.

[Maxwell]

You say Murkowski stabbed Begich in the back like she owes him anything when she clearly doesn't.

Her no means no rhetoric was disgusting. Using a photo of a public official isn't raping them.

Sure, I thought that was too far like everyone else, but Mark Begich was stupid to think there wasn't going to be backlash from pretending to be Lisa Murkowski's best friend.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This centrist unity stuff is a bunch of bull. Murkowski is the ole school Alaska GOP, bought and paid for by oil and construction. She is not and nor was she ever going to be an ally of Begich, centrism or no centrism. It is kind of like of talk of Snowe defecting at some point when that was never in the cards because of her history with the GOP. Murko is a machine Republican.

If Murkowski runs as an Indy from the get go, she risks that someone else runs against Miller in the primary and wins. If she faces a credible Republican unlike Miller, she is going to have a hard time pulling off a repeat of 2010 where the national GOP basically endorsed her as there own. And it would be the equivalent of Specter having ditched the party to avoid a primary loss. In that scenario, with Presidential turnout, Republicans and Conservatives rally to the  Republican nominee and he wins the plurality not Begich or Murkowski. Think Florida 2010.

On the other hand this Walker stuff has blurred the lines of division within Alaska politics. I see people considering him as the Democrats, others as the tea Party guy and though it is clear he got both of theirs support, how he operates will be alter the landscape. Either way, I don't see him being in Murkowski's camp.

[Wisconsin+17]

I'd love a Begitch (D) Mrukowski (I) Miller (R) campaign.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

Hopefully Murkowski beats him in a rout.

[Vega]

Begich has two strikes against him - (1) the Republican presidential victory in Alaska in 2016 is going to make it harder for him to unseat Murkowski.  

He won in 2008, when McCain/Palin were winning 59/37.

[Talleyrand]

Begich has two strikes against him - (1) the Republican presidential victory in Alaska in 2016 is going to make it harder for him to unseat Murkowski.  

He won in 2008, when McCain/Palin were winning 59/37.

Barely, against an opponent who had been convicted on corruption charges.

[publicunofficial]

Begich might be interested in running for his old position, Mayor of Anchorage, in 2015.

[Miles]

He's not running for Anchorage mayor:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[RFayette]

He's not running for Anchorage mayor:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

1. Why middle school but not high school?  In my opinion, it'd be better to move during one's middle school years than right before high school.
2. This still leaves open the possibility of Begich running for Senate or House, correct?

[Miles]

^ A bit further down into the article:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Mister Mets]

Begich has two strikes against him - (1) the Republican presidential victory in Alaska in 2016 is going to make it harder for him to unseat Murkowski.  

He won in 2008, when McCain/Palin were winning 59/37.

There are also plenty of examples in presidential years of Democrats winning states their party loses. Higher turnout helps the party, even in conservative states.

Beigch's best bet, if so inclined, would be to run for Senate and hopes Murkowski gets primaried.

Murkowski's 2010 write-in victory depended on a weak Democratic candidate.

[Xing]

It really seems like a gamble for him to run and hope that Murkowski gets primaried. Are Republicans really going to try to primary her again, after she won anyway in 2010? I think Begich would be better off running against Young.

[Panda Express]

Murkowski vs Begich = Begich loses
Tea Party Rethuglican vs Begich = Begich could win
Tea Party Rethuglican vs Begich vs Murkowski running as an Indpendent or write-in = Begich could win


But yeah, Murkowski has to be primaried.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Murkowski vs Begich = Begich loses
Tea Party Rethuglican vs Begich = Begich would win
Tea Party Rethuglican vs Begich vs Murkowski running as an Indpendent or write-in = Begich could win


But yeah, Murkowski has to be primaried.

[pbrower2a]

Has a Senator even gone into the House after leaving the upper house?

Claude Pepper of Florida.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Pepper#U.S._Senate

[pbrower2a]

Many Democrats voted for Lisa Murkowski who ran as an Independent in 2010 but quickly took a solid R voting record. Democrats are surely unimpressed. As a genuine Independent she could win handily in 2016, but such is no longer possible. Begich is a known commodity this time, and the barest D Senate loss in 2014.

If Alaska is trending D (an iffy proposition), Begich could oust her from the Senate.  

[Mister Mets]

It really seems like a gamble for him to run and hope that Murkowski gets primaried. Are Republicans really going to try to primary her again, after she won anyway in 2010? I think Begich would be better off running against Young.

Advantages of being a Senator.
- Better chance Democrats hold a majority.
- One of 100 rather than one of 435.
- Not seen as a demotion.
- Six years until the next election.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Many Democrats voted for Lisa Murkowski who ran as an Independent in 2010 but quickly took a solid R voting record. Democrats are surely unimpressed. As a genuine Independent she could win handily in 2016, but such is no longer possible. Begich is a known commodity this time, and the barest D Senate loss in 2014.

If Alaska is trending D (an iffy proposition), Begich could oust her from the Senate.  

Murkowski is and continues to be one of the most moderate republican senators. But yes, it will be harder for her to pull a write-in win off in 2016 with Begich running, because Begich would be a serious candidate, Scott McAdams was just a sacrificial lamb.

[Suburbia]

Begich should probably run in 2020 against Sullivan again.