AK: Governor Frank Murkowski to Seek Re-election

[Frodo]

Alaska governor to seek re-election

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski, the nation's oldest governor at 73, announced Friday that he will seek a second term.

Murkowski, a Republican, told a crowd of party faithful in Fairbanks that he wanted to finish the job he began four years ago after leaving the U.S. Senate - improving the state's economy.

"We've lived up to that commitment, but it's not done yet," he said.

The governor said his top priority would be establishing a natural-gas pipeline from Alaska to Canada or Chicago.

Murkowski has been widely criticized for program cuts early in his administration and for appointing his daughter, Lisa, to take his former Senate seat. He is seen as an unpopular governor who could be vulnerable in a Republican primary.

Republicans in the race include former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin and Fairbanks businessman John Binkley. On the Democratic side are Anchorage Reps. Ethan Berkowitz and Eric Croft.

The primary election is Aug. 22. The general election is Nov. 7.

[Alcon]

This is a circus in the making.

Does he have any credible primary opponents yet?

[© tweed]

Tony Knowles is running, correct?

[Republican Michigander]

Is Eric Croft (D) the guy who passed the "Vermont Carry" gun law  in Alaska?

[Republican Michigander]

Tony Knowles is running, correct?

I think Knowles is termed limited.

[Mr. Paleoconservative]

Murkowski has quite a hill to climb.

[Flying Dog]

If Tony Knowles runs I think he will win. Murkowski is very unpopular and is very vunerable. Lets not totaly ignore this one .

[Gabu]

YES!!

If only we could have gotten Bob Taft to run for re-election too.

[WalterMitty]

senator knowles wants to get beat by another murkowski?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

senator knowles wants to get beat by another murkowski?

Uh, look at Frank's numbers before you get so sure.

[Sam Spade]

This is a circus in the making.

Does he have any credible primary opponents yet?

With under 30% approval, I would think either Binkley or Palin should be considered credible primary opponents. 

Binkley is a former State Senator, has raised considerably more money than Palin as of now and will probably be the stronger challenger.  Palin is former mayor of Wasilla and is considered the more moderate candidate of the three but has not done as well in fundraising.

The Dem candidates are important only if Knowles does not enter the race.  If he does, he's probably a shoo-in for the nomination.

[WalterMitty]

senator knowles wants to get beat by another murkowski?

Uh, look at Frank's numbers before you get so sure.

you dems said the same thing about lisa.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

senator knowles wants to get beat by another murkowski?

Uh, look at Frank's numbers before you get so sure.

you dems said the same thing about lisa.

Her ratings were not as horrid as her father's, plus she would've porbably lost in an off year election and it's a well established fact that voting in Governor's races is much less partisan. Knowles has proven he can be elected Governor and probably against a candidate disapproved by less than 75% of the population.

[Alcon]

senator knowles wants to get beat by another murkowski?

Uh, look at Frank's numbers before you get so sure.

you dems said the same thing about lisa.

Dude, the elder Murkowski has 73% disapproval.  And it's not even quite the passive disapproval that Lisa got - "just there because of her daddy" - and that was enough to carry the Democrats to a near-victory.

Murkowski's best showing, among conservatives, still has a 60 percent disapproval.

Murkowski is in an awful position.  He is hated, and his only remaining base of support (he is only at 15% among Dems - whoever they are - and 18% among independents) is the people who would be voting for him already.  It's not even as if his crash is, like Taft's, because he also pissed of conservatives by being too liberal.  He has managed to tank his approval ratings without doing anything to expressly piss off his base (he just happened to do so in the meantime).

If anything, Murkowski's performance is effectively worse than Taft's when put into the context of a general election.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Remember that WalterMitty is also a giant fan of Bob Taft.

[Republican Michigander]

In Alaska, Senate and Governor are much different races for partisanship.

Lisa Murkowski won the senate race since she could help Ted "Bridge to nowhere" Stevens bring home the pork. She voted for a Stevens committee chair and had the ANWR issue in her favor. Tony Knowles is a good guy, but he still votes for Harry Reid for majority leader, Schumer for Judiciary Chair, etc.

In the case of the governor's race, Washington has nothing to do with this. Frank Murkowski can't bring home Washington Pork as governor, so this doesn't look good for him.

[Republican Michigander]

Remember that WalterMitty is also a giant fan of Bob Taft.

Taft's so bad that I would have run against him myself in the primary.

[Flying Dog]

Remember that Knowles only lost by 3 pts in the senate race

[Flying Dog]

Knowles has until June 1 to run.

[Gustaf]

I don't get why Knowles doesn't run. He would win easily and set himself up for a rematch against Lisa Murkowski in 2010!

[Flying Dog]

I don't get why Knowles doesn't run. He would win easily and set himself up for a rematch against Lisa Murkowski in 2010!

That dynasty should come crashing down!! I distast both Murkowski's a lot! That would be cool if Tony Knowles took them both down.

[WalterMitty]

Remember that WalterMitty is also a giant fan of Bob Taft.

correction:  im not a giant fan of taft.  ive said that the criticisms against him excessive.  i abhor the shoot the wounded mentality.

i also admire taft's tenacity.

it should be noted that i strongly opposed the california recall of 2003.  so i even stand behind horrible governors from your party.

[socaldem]

Personally, I hope Knowles sits this one out because I'd much rather see an up-and-coming Democrat become governor than our party's elder statesman. 

I think any Democrat will have at least even odds against Murkowski in the fall.  And I don't think Murkowski will lose the primary because he faces several opponents, neither of whom are particularly well known.  His opponents--particularly the rather moderate Pallin--aren't going to be able to rally the conservative base either. 

Based on the websites of the Democratic candidates, I think Ethan Berkowitz looks like a decent candidate to beat Murkowski and, after winning reelection, to run for ol' Ted Stevens' senate seat whne the old man steps down.

[Rococo4]

Tony Knowles is running, correct?

I think Knowles is termed limited.

He can come back and run again because someone has been elected since him.

[MAS117]

This should be a good race. Knowles will have a strong campaign and a strong Lt. Gov. candidate along side of him in House Miniority Leader Ethan Berkowitz.