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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell just appeared as a character witness for Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), and he offered nothing but praise for the longtime lawmaker. Powell said he had known Stevens for "about 25 years," dating back to the mid-1980s, and said he had a "sterling" reputation for integrity and reliability. Powell offered what he said was high praise against former infantrymen like himself: "As we say in the infantry, this is a guy you take on a long patrol." "There has never been a suggestion he would do anything improper or that would suggest any - any...

The U.S. Senate race in Alaska remains a dead heat. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds incumbent Republican Ted Stevens barely leading Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich 49% to 48%. Last month, Begich was on top 48% to 46%. Stevens, who is seeking a seventh term in the Senate, fell behind his challenger back in July after he was indicted for allegedly hiding more than $250,000 in illegal gifts from an oil company. Prior to this, the race had been a toss-up for several months. Stevens' slight bump up in the race comes after his federal trial...

"Rep. Don Young, a 35-year veteran of the U.S. House and currently under federal investigation, narrowly won the Republican primary battle Wednesday to keep his seat, Alaska's only one in the House of Representatives," the AP says. "In a close race only decided with the final counting of about 350 outstanding absentee and questioned ballots, Young beat Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell by 304 votes. Young finished with 48,195 votes; Parnell had 47,891 votes....

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell has conceded the tight Republican House primary race to incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Young. Parnell said Thursday he would not ask for a recount in the race he lost by 304 votes. Parnell conceded in a statement e-mailed to reporters and confirmed by campaign spokeswoman Cathy Giessel.

In Alaska's small political world, heads are still spinning over Sarah Palin's ascent to national stardom -- and not just because it happened overnight. Only a few months ago, many leading Republicans here were deriding Palin as a free-spending oil baron in the mold of Hugo Chavez. Now most are doing their best to cheer the governor on as a budget-cutting fiscal conservative running for vice president. Republican legislators may not like it when she talks in her stump speech about shaking up the good old boy network back home. They grumble that she is once again wielding her broad...

John McCain’s selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate has made a huge difference in her home state. McCain now leads his Democratic opponent nearly two-to one, 64% to 33%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state. It is the first poll taken since Palin, who is extremely popular in Alaska, joined the GOP national ticket. In late July, the race was much closer in Alaska, traditionally one of the most Republican states in the country. McCain held a five-point lead over Obama. But that poll also was taken one day...

John McCain’s selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate has made a huge difference in her home state. McCain now leads his Democratic opponent nearly two-to one, 64% to 33%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state. It is the first poll taken since Palin, who is extremely popular in Alaska, joined the GOP national ticket (crosstabs available for Premium Members).

Nate Burris of Wasilla, Alaska, says he's like every other butcher in America. Except instead of chopping chicken, he's mincing moose. "I hope we're the go-to place to bring your game," said Burris, whose shop took in 100,000 pounds of moose meat last year. One week ago, virtually no one had heard of Wasilla. It's one of the country's most distant outposts, nestled in snowcapped mountains -- as close to Beijing as it is to Washington, D.C. Things have changed since the announcement that Wasilla's hometown hero, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, would be Republican presidential nominee John McCain's pick as...

U.S. Representative Don Young of Alaska still has a slim lead in a tight primary race against state Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell. Young was 172 votes ahead of Parnell this evening (Friday) with most of the absentee and questioned ballots counted. That's up slightly from 151 votes after the primary election a week and a half ago. Ballots from five House districts still remain to be counted tonight and the last overseas ballots won't be counted until Wednesday. But campaign spokesman Mike Anderson said Young was cautiously optimistic. Young, the subject of a federal investigation for his ties to oil...

American Viewpoint Alaska General Election Poll McCain/Palin - 57% Obama/Biden - 33% Favorable Ratings For Sarah Palin Favorable/Unfavorable - 86/10 Strongly Favorable - 63% Approval Among Republicans - 97% approval Among Democrats - 75% Among Voters Who Say Energy is Their #1 Issue: McCain/Palin - 74% Obama/Biden - 18% Is Palin less qualified, as qualified, or more qualified than Barack Obama? More qualified - 30% As qualified - 29% Less qualified - 30% Does McCain’s pick of Palin make you more or less likely to vote for McCain? More likely - 56% (much more likely - 44%) Less likely -...

I was just watching 'Anderson' interviewing Obama, and asked him about his ability to handle a situation such as the one that the Gulf Coast residents are experiencing. In Obama's response, he referred to Gov. Palin's home town as 'Wa-silly'! What a putz!

Surprised, shocked and stunned seem to be words thrown about most often in describing first reactions to hearing the news. In fact, Alaska’s Attorney General compared it to landing on the moon. Not Palin landing on the moon. Although if it polled well - and chances are the McCain team has already polled it - she’d be giving her speech next week from orbit. Regardless, the headline of the day came from an article written by a disaffected writer named Alan Suderman in Juneau admonishing the national media for mispronouncing Governor’s last name. His headline, “Note to nation: Palin rhymes...

It's Friday night, and there have got to be 500 people packed into the Sluice Box, a beer-soaked clapboard honky-tonk at the Alaska State Fair — the state's biggest event all year — just down the highway from Governor Sarah Palin's hometown of Wasilla. The legendary Hobo Jim, Alaska's official state balladeer, the guy who has opened sessions of the legislature with a song, is onstage, working blue. Hobo Jim, with his old cowboy hat and very new John McCain sticker on his guitar, has the crowd dancing and drinking now. He plays a Patsy Cline cover. They cheer. He...

polar bear populations are declining in some areas, are stable in others, but are increasing in some parts. The total population in Canada, where two-thirds of the world's polar bears live, is estimated at 15,500..... The world Population of Polar Bears is 22,000 to 25,000. 50 years ago the world Population of Polar Bears was about 5,000 to 8,000.SUMMARY of: Movements and Population Dynamics of Polar Bears Steven C. Amstrup USGS circa 2002The continuing growth in polar bear numbers, the continuing trend in proportion of dens on land, and perhaps changing freeze-up conditions in the last decade all may be...

WASILLA, ALASKA - Sarah Palin's hometown rallied around her as mayor - now Republicans wonder if the rest of America will warm up to the surprise pick from cold country. Though her mother-in-law has doubts. Faye Palin admitted she enjoys hearing Barack Obama speak, and still hasn't decided which way she'll vote. "We don't agree on everything. But I respect her passion," she said. "Being pro-life is who Sarah is." Faye Palin said the governor never considered ending her recent pregnancy when genetic testing showed her son Trig, born in April, would have Down syndrome. "There was no question," she...

As mayor from 1996 to 2002, Palin encouraged development in Wasilla -- where a new Target and other big-box retailers line the highway -- by slashing property taxes, residents say. Then she pushed for a sales tax, arguing it was the fairest way to raise revenue in a town that has about 7,000 residents but that serves a valley population 10 times as large. "If you went to city council meetings -- and I went to a lot of them -- she didn't make a quick decision," said Bruce Nicholson, who owns a local concrete grinding and polishing businesses. "She...

FAIRBANKS -- Among social conservatives, and Alaska has plenty, U.S. Sen. John McCain’s popularity grew Friday after he named Gov. Sarah Palin his running mate. Palin is solidly pro-gun, pro-death penalty, anti-abortion, against gay marriage and she has advocated for creationism to be taught in public schools. McCain has a reputation, deserved or not, for being moderate on some social issues, although his votes in the Senate and the positions described on his campaign Web site would suggest otherwise. The Arizona senator was the last choice among Alaska Republicans who voted in February’s presidential preference poll. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt...

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Whether they thought the choice was brilliant or bad, Alaskans tended to react with surprise Friday to the news that Sen. John McCain had picked Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Around Anchorage and the state, people watched 24-hour news channels, switched the dials on their radios and hit refresh on their computers to keep abreast of the national buzz. Nearly everyone had an opinion. Some praised Palin's ability as an effective leader, a popular governor who fought big oil and finally made progress on a gas pipeline project. Others said she doesn't have the needed experience or knowledge...

"Oh my goodness," said Vera White, heading into the market holding the hand of a squirming toddler. "I had a reaction. I don't know what the reaction was really. I just wanted to start crying for what reason I'm really not sure." "Frankly, I think it just balances out the ticket," she finally said. "Obama knows nothing about foreign policy. He's a handsome, young black man. (Palin) hasn't been in office too long. ... And she's a beautiful woman." George Thaggard woke up this morning, turned on the Fox news channel and heard about the Palin choice. "It's a surprise,"...

With Alaska's most popular politician now running for vice president, the political playing field in the state has changed in an instant. That may be good news for some embattled Republicans. "This helps all Republicans," said U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. "There's an opportunity for us to go to the polls and support an Alaskan on the presidential ticket..." Bringing more Republicans to the polls also could help U.S. Rep. Don Young, who is narrowly leading challenger Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell while waiting for absentee and other ballots... Young is facing a federal criminal investigation of his own... In the...

U.S. Rep. Don Young and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will have to wait until Sept. 5 to find out which of them will face Democrat Ethan Berkowitz in November. With all but one of Alaska's 438 precincts reporting late Wednesday afternoon, less than two-tenths of a percentage point separated Young and Parnell in the Republican U.S. House primary. Young was in the lead with 42,539 votes, just 152 votes more than Parnell's 42,387. The state Division of Elections was still waiting for the Interior village of Hughes to turn in its ballot count.

Well, Barack Obama has made his VP selection, taking Washington's most vicious attack dog, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. So, the question has now become how to combat the fast-talking Biden and his decades of foreign policy experience. Unfortunately, most of the Republican punditry is running scared from Biden and, in my opinion, suggesting that McCain adopt a disastrous strategy with his own pick. So, here are my thoughts on how to beat Biden, and they are probably different from what you've been hearing on the news: Biden is a fast-talker who pulls no punches. He has an encyclopedic knowledge...

Alaska's Sarah Palin is a bold, first-term Republican governor, a former beauty pageant winner, a mother of five and, if a website of mysterious origin proves prophetic, she could be Sen. John McCain's choice for vice presidential running mate. Scouring the Internet for possible presidential and VP combinations, most websites – such as McCainRomney.com, McCainHuckabee.com or McCainJindal.com – turn up as domain names for sale or general information sites. Then there's McCainPalin.com. The page displays paid political advertising and the statement, "Welcome to McCainPalin.com–the best source for information on the John McCain - Sarah Palin 2008 Republican Presidential Ticket. Stayed...

I'm not talking about the mere physical attractiveness of Alaska's governor, though she has been blessed with an abundance of that gift. Palin was a competitor in the 1984 Miss Alaska beauty pageant after being named Miss Wasilla earlier that year, where she also won Miss Congeniality honors. No, what I'm dicussing here is beauty in the political sense - as in the beauty of what John McCain, if he's smart and willing to make a really bold move, could accomplish by naming Governor Palin as his running mate for the presidential election. Those making the case for Palin as...

Looking for a metric on how much the indictment of Ted Stevens has affected the Alaska Senate race? Alaska pollster Ivan Moore has an answer, thanks to a well-timed poll and an equally fast follow-up. The answer, as one might imagine, is that Stevens now looks even more damaged than he was just a week ago. The polls, conducted by Ivan Moore Research, were conducted 7/18-22 among 504 likely voters for a margin of error +/- 4.4% and 7/30-31, after the indictment, among 413 likely voters for a margin of error of +/- 4.8%. Stevens was tested against former State...

Alaska’s U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Ted Stevens and Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich has been a toss-up for several months now, but the Democratic challenger is now ahead 50% to 41%. When “leaners” are included, Begich leads 52%to 44%. Begich began running his first television ads of the campaign on July 8 and the survey was conducted nine days later. For each of the last three months, the candidates have been within two points of each other. Last month, Stevens was up two, 46% to 44%. In May, it the incumbent trailed by two. The month before, Stevens had...

Election: There's little doubt voters want more drilling if even congressional candidates are starting to trek to Alaska to urge more oil development. Seven are there now. That's a wake-up call to Congress.Congressional challenger Craig Williams of Pennsylvania spoke to us Wednesday by phone from Deadhorse, Alaska. He and six other Republican candidates think there's enough voter disapproval with Congress' failure to do anything about gas prices to win this election, even in a season when Democrats are believed to have the advantage. "We've got a Democratic Congress doing absolutely nothing. Even the Republicans (before them) didn't do anything. So...

Facing bad publicity and a dwindling campaign account, U.S. Rep. Don Young last year turned to the "AK Wolfpack," a group of more than 20 lobbyists, including former Young staffers and retired former congressmen, with close ties to the Alaska Republican. Young's chief of staff, Mike Anderson, sent the Wolfpack an e-mail to tell them that national Democrats planned aggressive fundraising and claims of misconduct by Young to topple the 35-year incumbent congressman and his fellow Alaska Republican, U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. If they succeed, Anderson warned, "you and your clients will be impacted." Anderson e-mailed the fundraising appeal on...

Eight minutes on ANWR, taxing “windfalls,” and her VP prospects from last night’s “Kudlow & Company.” Nothing surprising here in light of her recent letter to Reid, but it’s the first chance I’ve had to see her talking politics in an extended segment and so I figured it’s probably yours, too. Is that what an Alaskan accent sounds like? Not quite Canadian, not quite North Dakotan.

Way to go Gov Sarah. She has got yo be the hottest. "Gov. Sarah Palin is asking the Legislature to give every Alaskan $1,200 as energy cost relief."

Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska has narrowly regained the advantage in his bid for a seventh term against Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, as the numbers seesaw again in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that Stevens, the longest serving Republican in the Senate, leads his Democratic opponent 46% to 44%. A month ago, it was Begich with an equally insignificant advantage, 47% to 45%. This is the third straight poll where the candidates have been within two points of each other.

Today, the Club for Growth Political Action Committee endorses Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell in his bid to unseat Republican Rep. Don Young in the state's August primary. The reason for the endorsement is simple. Mr. Parnell is a solid conservative who led the fight for lower taxes and spending in the state legislature, and joined Gov. Sarah Palin in pushing for reform in the state. The man he is hoping to replace isn't economically conservative in the least. Mr. Young is actually a poster child for what has gone wrong with the Republican Party in Washington.

Today, the Club for Growth Political Action Committee endorses Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell in his bid to unseat Republican Rep. Don Young in the state's August primary. The reason for the endorsement is simple. Mr. Parnell is a solid conservative who led the fight for lower taxes and spending in the state legislature, and joined Gov. Sarah Palin in pushing for reform in the state. The man he is hoping to replace isn't economically conservative in the least. Mr. Young is actually a poster child for what has gone wrong with the Republican Party in Washington. Over his 35...

Why I support Sarah Palin to be Vice Presidential nominee for the Republican Party. As a fellow American, I'm writing to let you know of my support for SARAH PALIN to be the Vice Presidential nominee for the Republican Party. Gov. Palin would be an ideal choice. Sarah Palin's experience as Governor of Alaska makes Palin an extremely qualified candidate with Chief Executive experience. Governor Palin also provides instant conservative credentials. For instance, Governor Palin is staunchly pro-life and pro-marriage. In addition, as well as being a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, and has long been a champion...

The rumor is a big possibility she's being looked at.A tipster sent us word that John McCain’s VP advance man Arthur Culvahouse has been spotted in Juneau, Alaska. There’s only one reason he would be there - to meet with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin about the Vice President position. This comes on the heels of McCain’s Memorial Day weekend barbecue attended by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, former White House budget director Rob Portman, and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman. Supposedly that was in informal...

In 2006, Sarah Palin became Alaska's youngest and first woman governor after having earned a reputation as a determined and successful advocate of ethics reform in politics. In the primary, she defeated an incumbent Republican governor and then a former two-term Democratic governor. During her first year in office, as reported by the Associated Press on May 10, she "distanced herself from the old guard, powerful members of the state GOP (and) stood up to the oil interests that hold great power in Alaska, and with bipartisan support in the statehouse, she won a tax increase on the oil companies'...

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Alaska voters finds John McCain earning 50% of the vote while Barack Obama attracts 41%. Four percent (4%) say they’d vote for some other candidate while another 4% are not sure (see video report). While McCain’s nine-percentage point lead is relatively small when compared to recent Republican victory margin in Alaska, it’s a slightly bigger lead than he enjoyed a month ago. McCain is supported by 82% of Republican voters while Obama attracts 77% of Democratic voters. Over the past month, McCain has gained ground among the state’s large pool of unaffiliated voters....

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that Republican Senator Ted Stevens is trailing by two percentage points in his bid for re-election. Stevens attracts 45% of the vote while Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) earns 47%. A month ago, it was Stevens with 46% support and Begich at 45%. Any incumbent who polls below 50% is considered potentially vulnerable, especially when they trail a challenger early in the campaign season. Stevens is supported by just 68% of those who plan to vote for John McCain. Twenty-four percent (24%) of McCain voters say they’ll be splitting the ticket to vote...

BUTTE, Alaska (AP) - For decades, Alaskans have contentedly called Ted Stevens senator, and Don Young congressman, their Republicans in far-off Washington. Now other, less flattering names are creeping into conversation. Crook, for example. Or jerk. Or old, washed up. And because of it, Democrats sense opportunity even in the Last Frontier, a state that has dealt them mostly defeat for a generation. "I've been voting for Ted and Don all my life," says Scott Frank, 45, a blue-collar Republican sipping coffee at the Butte Cafe, "but they've really screwed up." Shoulder-to-shoulder around a slab-wood table, Frank and his pals...

In a difficult year for Republicans, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens is providing GOP leaders with yet another headache. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that Stevens is essentially even with Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. Stevens currently attracts 46% of the vote while Begich earns 45%. Four percent (4%) say they’d vote for a third party option while 5% are not sure. Any incumbent who polls below 50% is considered potentially vulnerable and that label certainly applies to Stevens.

The lieutenant governor of Alaska, Sean Parnell, announced today that he's challenging ethically embattled Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) in the Republican primary, raising the likelihood of a hotly contested fight for the GOP nomination. Parnell announced his intentions at the state’s Republican Party convention, according to The Associated Press. He will be formally kicking off his campaign at a news conference this afternoon in Anchorage. Parnell is an ally of the state's governor, Sarah Palin, a reform-minded Republican who unseated former Gov. Frank Murkowski in a 2006 Republican primary. An attorney, he has served in both the state House and...

As speculation increases on the VP choice for John McCain, we have begun to hear the traditional denials from the leading candidates. They want to focus on their current job, or they don't want to presume that they will be one of McCain's final options. One candidate has offered some refreshing enthusiasm: Click here for video and scroll down (can't embed this video into the thread, unfortunately, due to flash). Palin would make an interesting choice. She would be the first woman on a major party ticket since Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, assuming Hillary Clinton fails to win the Democratic...

s John McCain inches closer to the 1,191 delegates he needs to secure the Republican nomination, attention has turned to the vice presidential sweepstakes. Who should McCain pick as his running mate? The answer will be especially important if the aging four-term senator's general election foe is a youthful freshman agitating for change. Sarah Palin, the beautiful conservative Republican governor of Alaska, would be an ideal choice to help McCain slay this unholy ObamaOprah beast which is set to rake in nearly $50 million a month in campaign donations alone, and has intense auxiliary support coming from the unions, George...

At convention, they can vote for whomever they want. Bill Clinton called Cindy Spanyers up at work in Juneau the other day. A former congressman and member of the 9/11 Commission left her a message hoping to chat as well. These aren't the kind of phone calls Spanyers is used to getting at the Alaska Public Employees Association. But she's one of what are now hugely coveted "superdelegates," the party leaders who could decide whether Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for president no matter what the voters say. Superdelegates get to choose what candidate they support...

Mitt Romney 5,032 44% Mike Huckabee 2,492 22% Ron Paul 1,896 17% John McCain 1,767 16% Uncommitted 187 2

Barack Obama has won in Alaska, according to Fox News.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is endorsing Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Murkowski says the former Massachusetts governor is a proven leader that Alaskans and other Americans need in the White House in a time of economic uncertainty. Murkowski is announcing her endorsement just days before Super Tuesday, when primaries will be held in numerous states and caucuses will be held other states, including Alaska. The Alaska Republican says she welcomes Romney's promise to work toward the nation's energy independence and his support of opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ron Paul 2008 Alaska presidential campaign invites Anchorage-area gun owners to a gun rights town hall meeting on Tuesday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m. The Q&A session will be held at the Ron Paul 2008 Alaska State Headquarters in Anchorage at 3339 Fairbanks St., near 34th and Old Seward, behind the Moose’s Tooth. "Congressman Paul is the leading advocate for gun owners and their rights in the presidential race,” said Paul Alaska state political director Craig Bergman. “He is the only presidential candidate truly fighting for the Second Amendment rights of Alaskans, and he will continue to...