Posted on 06/11/2006 6:59:18 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Every day, we'll highlight one poll number that we think teaches us something new about the political landscape. Today's big number is 73. That's the percentage of Alaskans who view Gov. Frank Murkowski (R) unfavorably, according to an Ivan Moore Research survey. And, if you'll pardon the pun, when it comes to bad news, that's just the tip of the iceberg. While 20% of AKans view Murkowski favorably, he can't catch a break in his own party: He's currently running third in the GOP primary, trailing '02 LG candidate/ex-Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin (R) and ex-State Sen. John Binkley (R), with 18% to Palin's 44% and Binkley's 27%.
When matched up against presumptive Dem nom/ex-Gov. Tony Knowles (D), Palin trails by just 4 points and holds Knowles to 43%, showing that, while Knowles may be popular, this state is still as red as they come. Betraying his own unpopularity, though, Murkowski receives just 21% against Knowles' 53%, and only finishes slightly ahead of ex-State Rep. Andrew Halcro, who's running as an Indie.
Nothing in this poll can make Murkowski's day. And to add insult to injury, it's summer time, which means his day is extra long -- 18 hours one minute long, to be exact.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com ...
I realize that the Ivan Moore polling group is a Democrat-affiliated polling firm, but the poll results seem credible. It shows that Sarah Pallin trails ex-Gov. Tony Knowles by only 43% to 39%.
Sarah Pallin is both the most conservative and most electable candidate in the field. The choice would seem to be obvious.
OK I'm not a AKan why is Murkowski so unpopular?
Breaking promises about taxes is one reason, though I imagine there are others. I'm also not an Alaksa resident, so I don't know the answer.
I'd love to see Sarah Palin get the nomination and I think she'd beat Knowles.
ping
Not suprising, Murk has been terrible.
I can't believe ANYONE would vote for the guy after he anointed his daughter as US Senator. That move was so blatantly anti-American it paled in comparison to the Kennedy clan's manipulations.
Good point. If he wanted to show her how much he appreciated her, he should have gotten her a pony.
He appointed his daughter to finish out a Senate term he was elected to, and she has since been affirmed by the voters by winning an election outright against a very strong opponent. However, he has been a very bad governor and can't handle the executive branch of government, apparently.
I wouldn't call it "blatantly anti-American" that she was appointed to the Senate seat, though it was ill-advised. It wasn't as though she was merely some housewife sitting in her apartment watching SoapNet when daddy called to offer her the job, she WAS in the leadership of the AK State Senate, so she did have the qualifications. Incidentally, Ted Stevens's son, Ben, is also in the leadership of the legislature, and is expected to succeed his father upon Ted's death.
The reason why Frank gave up a safe Senate seat for the Governorship was due to the ludicrous situation in AK that no Republican had won the Governorship since 1978 (and that was the maverick RINO, Jay Hammond, who incidentally endorsed the liberal 'Rat, Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer, against Murkowski in the '02 election). He figured he'd cap off his political career with a nice run as Governor, and it seemed good enough, but it turned out serving as Governor was NOT his forte.
I do hope, however, Murkowski withdraws gracefully and preserves his dignity. However, if he chooses not to, it's quite likely he won't be renominated, regardless. Right now, it's about making sure the GOP holds the Governorship and prevents (what I believe is) Tony Knowles's attempt to get into the Senate through the side door, vis a vis his running mate, Ethan Berkowitz (upon Ted Stevens's death).
He'll be waiting a long time. Ted Stevens may be old, but he's strong as an ox.
Not commenting on his politics eithe way, but he's not dying anytime soon.
Well, Stevens turns 83 this year. Once you get past the average life expectancy, you could go at any time. I'm more worried about the fact that he is either borderline or straight-out senile, given his recent antics (the screaming tirade about his threatening to quit if he didn't have that ghastly $450 mil spending bill on the bridges to nowhere). They may love him to death in Alaska, but his Porky Piggishness on gov't spending ain't nothing to brag about.
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