As Republican candidates are apparently busy building their campaign apparatus, Alaska Sen. Mark Begich has been hitting the airwaves. His ads about ObamaCare and the government shutdown began airing months ago. This week, he released another ad that’s touting his pro-development record and taking Washington to task for not understanding Alaska issues.
For all of Begich’s supposed disdain for the Washington establishment, the ad was first shared by his campaign not to local reporters, but to Politico, the quintessential inside-the-beltway political news site. (Listen to the ad here.)
“Even though Washington keeps trying to stop Alaska from developing our natural resources, I’m pushing for more oil drilling and mining because it means thousands of new jobs that you can raise a family on, and because it’s our land, and we know best how to use it,” he says.
The ad also mentions how he is working with Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski on getting roads built to the Niblack and Bokan mines, and how he got the Forest Service to open up 11 new drill sites at Greens Creek mine in Southeast.
The ad follows a potentially politically damaging decision by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to block a road between Aleutian Chain King Cove and Cold Bay. The road, which cuts through a slice of federal land, would provide the residents of the King Cove community access to an all weather airport for medical evacuations.
Contact Amanda Coyne at amandamcoyne@yahoo.com
I hope the Republican party gets behind a good candidate. Begich is a little slimey for my tastes. I will say however that he seems to be evrywhere all the time. The former Commissioner, Dan Sullivan, seems like the best Republican candidate so far. Yet, I’ve heard very little from his campaign. I hope he gets engaged with the public soon and starts campaigning. He should have a staff by now and workibg to get votes. Seems like he announced over a month or so ago. Hope he gets his act together and gets out there campaigning.
Having not seen Sullvan’s fundraising totals, and knowing absolutely nothing about how to predict elections, I think your prognostications are right on the money.
Please, oh wise prophet, tell us who will win the Governor’s race?
I was hoping that we could get rid of Begich and replace him with a solid Republican and help shift the balance of power in the US Senate. Unfortunately, I think our chances of electing a Republican are passing us by. Treadwell is unabale to connect with voters. Sullivan’s campaign is very underwhelming and Miller isn’t electable. Roll all 3 together and maybe you get a candidate that can compete. I’m disappointed and disgusted. Someone described Sullivan as the Joe Hayes of this race suggesting that he’ll have money but no campaign to compete against Begich. This is insane that given the demographics, party registrations and voting history of our state that we can’t elect a Republican.
Mark Begich is running a great campaign. This radio ad rocks. My prediction is that Begich wins by 6%..He is a skilled political force. Miller doesn’t have a prayer. Treadwell has the personality of a bored goldfish. Sullivan, who most likely will be the Republican nominee, has a campaign organization that has one speed – – called warp slow. Heard that he is raising lots of money but his campaign is dismal and he has the burden of sharing Mayor Dan’s less than stellar name. Can you say Senator Begich for six more years ? Well, I suggest that you get use to it. Amanda, quit being nice. Call it straight, you know Begich is going to clean Sullivan’s clock.