There are a couple of things worth noting in this CQ Politics story on the Stevens indictment.The first is that they are shifting their rating of the race from Leans Republican to Leans Democrat. That is pretty significant in and of itself because it represents the fundamental change that the indictment represents to the fabric of the race. Should Stevens win the primary, the race becomes about the indictment and I think we all know how that one should end.
The second thing to note is this bit about the Alaska GOP's endorsement policy:
Alaska Republican party spokesman Pierre McHugh noted that the state party does not endorse candidates who face primary challengers and therefore has not endorsed Stevens in the primary.That seems particularly handy in this case, but I think state parties ought to consider such a policy in order to prevent the incumbent protection racket that we see going on elsewhere.
Back on point... There are six other candidates challenging Stevens in the GOP primary and the leader amongst that crowd is Dave Cuddy (WMD). If Stevens is to be ousted in the primary, it seems vital for the five other candidates to unify behind Cuddy. That seems the most logical way of preventing the Democrats from taking the seat and advancing their march towards sixty senators.
The latest Rasmussen poll, taken a week before the indictment, had Stevens down by 9 points in a head-to-head with Anchorage mayor Mark Begich. This indictment is not going to help those numbers improve. The best thing that Stevens could do -- for the party and for Alaska -- is resign immediately.
7/31/08 UPDATE: CQ Politics has a report on a guy named Vic Vickers who doesn't seem likely to quit and unite behind Cuddy. That's a shame really because so long as there is a field this wide open, Stevens is sure to win and the incumbent racket will continue on... If Stevens is to be defeated in a primary, the field will have to be reduced to one alternative. If the Alaskans can't figure out who that person should be, I am pretty sure the seat will be lost to Begich in the general because Stevens will survive the primary.
