Unless something really weird happens, it appears that GOP Senate candidate Dan Sullivan’s lead will hold (See this dandy chart from Alexandra Gutierrez.) However, nobody has yet called the race, as they might in another place where the major networks use statisticians, which typically call races based on probably results. Because we don’t have those in Alaska, typically candidates do it themselves when a win is all but sure on Election Night. Sullivan didn’t do that. It’s unclear why, but it’s led to some interesting charges. One thing’s clear, if and when the race is called in his favor, it’s not an auspicious way to start a term. See below:
More D.C. staff and consultants urge halt to #Alaska vote count. What’s the beef with counting all the votes? #aksen
— Alaska Democrats (@AlaskaDemocrats) November 7, 2014
Ironic that a carpetbagger wouldn’t want to count votes of First Alaskans. #aksen #akelect #Alaska — Alaska Democrats (@AlaskaDemocrats) November 6, 2014
@Nat_Herz @Amanda_Coyne point of the PR war is to shape public opinion & public pressure in case there is a legal battle. See FL 2000. — Taniel (@Taniel) November 7, 2014 @Amanda_Coyne @Nat_Herz Even if Begich concedes, the votes will get counted, period. If he has more votes, he wins regardless of concession — Jim Wilke (@JimWilke) November 7, 2014
But also, if race is really 100% unwinnable for Begich, why doesn’t @DanSullivan2014 declare victory rather than wait for concession? #AKsen — Nat Herz (@Nat_Herz) November 7, 2014
@kcgrove @Nat_Herz Said Dan won, didn’t call for the vote count to be stopped. That would be absurd. Votes still being counted all over US. — Amanda Coyne (@Amanda_Coyne) November 7, 2014
Hey outsiders, stop telling us how to run our elections. We are counting all the votes. Breathe. #AKsen
— Julie Hasquet (@HasquetAK) November 7, 2014
More D.C. staff and consultants urge halt to #Alaska vote count. What’s the beef with counting all the votes? #aksen — Alaska Democrats (@AlaskaDemocrats) November 7, 2014
Sullivan’s DC spokesmen may not have heard of these rural #Alaska communities but we think all AK votes should be counted. #aksen #akelect — Alaska Democrats (@AlaskaDemocrats) November 7, 2014
@Nat_Herz @Amanda_Coyne point of the PR war is to shape public opinion & public pressure in case there is a legal battle. See FL 2000.
— Taniel (@Taniel) November 7, 2014
From a reader, who seems to know more about these things than I do. I do know that freshman orientation is Wednesday:
You have to figure that Begich’s refusal to concede makes it harder for Sullivan to recruit top-tier staff and lobby for committee assignments. Begich’s refusal to acknowledge the obvious hurts his successor and the state. There’s got to be a ton of behind the scenes jockeying going on right now as the Senate Republicans and committees staff up and Begich is keeping Sullivan’s hands tied.
Matter of fact, if you ask me it’s a plainly racist point of view.
The more I look at that tweet from @Alaska Democrats the more it makes me wonder what boob would say such a thing.
I guess they don’t realize that Sullivan’s family can prove their presence in Alaska since about a 1000 years before anyone even invented a democrat.
Hahaha….Sullivan didn’t have a national Republican in Anchorage to wind him up and tell him what to say to declare victory. Is this a preview of what little we can expect?
Ms. Coyne, How generous of you to say that the major Alaska networks don’t have statisticians. You could have instead said that the networks don’t have people who can spell statistician, and the talking heads on television and radio cannot spell the word. Looking at major media coverage during this election I would say that the owners of these media, including the ADN and the Juneau Empire, should be competing with one another to hire you to run them. I hope you turn all of them down.
I’m sorry I voted for Sullivan is prroviing to be a disappointment already. He said he’d be a fighter. Instead, he’s acting like Begich’s lap dog. What’s it take to get a decent senator?
For a smart guy, Sulliivan exudes a sense of cluelessness. Hey Dan, you won the race so give a victory speech. The Begich people are making you look like a dumbass exxtrodrdinaire.
I’ve been hearing wild rumors of a Gulfstream 4 on the ramp in Juneau unloading a team of Perkins Coie types this afternoon.
I actually went and took a look this evening and could not see any G-4’s on the ramp. But it’s dark and part of the ramp used for this type aircraft is not easy to see by the public, even in daylight.
Anyone else heard anything about this?
Begich spins it from the grave!
Gotta give the guy credit.
This is the most ridiculous ranting I have ever seen. It seems a battle between the sophomoric and the idiot spinners. The real question remains “why didn’t Dan Sullivan declare victory on election night?” The babbles about they were waiting for a “network” to call it is demonstrative of the Sullivan’s campaign lack of understanding of local precedent and protocols. However, the Begich campaign’s response is the same disingenuous rants that we had to live thru during the campaign. The polls are closed, there are no more votes to vote. Regardless of when someone declares victory, all the votes will be counted and recorded. The Begich supporters are out of control with their unhappiness. On election night, BP external affairs spokesperson, Julie Hasquet, was screaming at Sullivan supporters on election night. She continues to rant as evidenced by her work-hour tweets. I had no idea that BP was such a big backer and sponsor of Begich. I’m further surrprised that they allow this on the corporate clock. Is this legal even? This blows me away given that he wasn’t a supporter of SB 21 even – – or at least publicly. Weird.
Are we hearing excuses already? So if Sullivan is not that effective over the next six years it will be because, even before he was declared the winner of the election by proper authority, his opponent “tied his hands” and therefore Senator Sullivan was denied an opportunity to select qualified staff , lobby for committee assignments or even attend freshman orientation?
If a potential “top-tier” staff member isn’t either smart enough to understand the process or brave enough to risk aligning with Sullivan now, does the Senator really want him or her? If Senator Sullivan has demonstrated potential to effectively serve in particular committee assignments am I to understand that potential won’t be seen by other Senators because Begich didn’t admit defeat? Lastly, am I to understand he is forbidden to attend orientation unless Begich admits defeat? If you were a major party leader would you allow any orientation that did not allow attendance by the apparent victors who were members of your party? Sure……