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Obama To Campaign In ... Alaska?
Wow, talk about broadening the map. The Anchorage Daily News reports that Obama may actually campaign in Alaska, a state that's about as red as it gets.
"That is the plan -- we are pretty sure he's going to come at the end of the summer," Obama's new Alaska state director, Kat Pustay, told the paper.
We'll believe that when we see it, but if he does go it would be quite a statement. The last Democrat to win Alaska was Lyndon Johnson, during his landslide victory in 1964. John Kerry got only 36% there in 2004, and Al Gore fared even worse four years earlier, winning only 28%.
Late Update: We're not sure if a Dem presidential candidate has ever campaigned in Alaska, but we're sure our historian/reader types can figure it out...
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It might help bring down Stevens and Young.
June 26, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eric
It is Al Gore "fared" not faired.
June 26, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
fixed, thanks
anyone know if a Dem prez candidate has ever campaigned there?
June 26, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I swear I saw Eric's name on this post. Sorry, Greg.
June 26, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know, I get them mixed up all the time - they're so much alike! Heh, heh...just kidding. But, I do.
June 26, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
The answer, of course, is that Obama is following in the footsteps of John F Kennedy, who made a swing through Alaska on September 3-4, 1960. Kennedy hoped to win the state's three electoral votes, which were in play for the first time that year. He also spoke with reporters about his ambitious nationwide voter-registration drive, and his hope for an end to an era of divided government.
How much do you want to bet that Plouffe knew all of this before he announced the schedule? Bear in mind, as well, that Alaska is one of the two states in which Plouffe expects Bob Barr to garner a significant percentage of the vote from disgruntled Republicans, potentially opening the door for Obama.
June 26, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gah! Posted too late (see below). Thanks for the history lesson, Fly. :-)
June 26, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome back Fly. Good to have your insight here again.
June 26, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
An addendum:
Ben Smith has already reported">http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Plouffe_Barr_could_make_the_difference.html>reported Plouffe's belief that Alaska is "one of the states where we think Barr can get 6, 7, 8 percent." If Democrats moved from 28% to 36% in the four years between 2000 and 2004, is it really so improbable that in a cycle featuring Young, Stevens, and corruption that Obama could get the 46-47% that it may take to win this time around?
i don't think this is a gimmick, either. Alaska is one of the seventeen states that Plouffe has targeted for early TV advertising. At worst, the Obama campaign has decided that contesting Alaska will force McCain to divert resources he doesn't have. And I think there's a plausible case to be made that Obama, with the help of Bob Barr, could actually win its votes.
June 26, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Ben Smith link you meant to post is here: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Plouffe_Barr_could_make_the_difference.html
June 26, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do they get the internet in Alaska? I hear the tubes are clogged.
June 26, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Juneau sumptin? Dat Exoff Valdeez be comin wid a huge crood-oil enema, jus to unclog dem toobz.
Yah, is Don Young's way of bitin back.
June 26, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
nixon campaigned there like two days before election day (he made the 50 state pledge and lost because of it)
i don't know of any dems.
June 26, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
i assume you are talking about 1960?
June 26, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
A more interesting question might be has a Republican presidential candidate ever campaigned there? Or is this a state they just routinely take for granted? If it's the latter, then Obama making a play for it truly would be remarkable.
June 26, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ha! Chrono, what'd we say about AK? Competitive, yes? People should not base their expectations on prior election outcomes.
June 26, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
So much time wasted if you fly and campaign in Alaska. Is the publicity really worth the cost in time?
June 26, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it is. If nothing else, it shows they are serious about the 50 state approach. And I rather doubt it was the 50 state campaign that defeated Nixon - Nixon was good at defeating himself.
June 26, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I just love the idea of that blue map. Mmmm...think of it. If we can turn States and maybe even whole regions - I'd like to see the tide turning for the Dems. Of course, we need to see the tide turning in the way they govern as well...
June 26, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
From another point of view:
Alaska gets talked about all the time, mostly for Arctic oil reserves, but also for their fine contribution to Congress (*hack*hack*). If someone gets munched by a bear or falls off a glacier, we may hear about it. What do Alaskan people get? Not much. I understand they have huge unemployment, high alcoholism rates, and a school system that pretty much sucks. Government paydays based on oil revenue don't really make up for these serious quality of life issues.
If Obama is the current symbol of Hope and Change, maybe Alaska is the place he needs to be. Not that I actually ever see candidates here in San Diego, but I know they show up, especially Republican ones, to have very expensive fund raiser lunches or stand on aircraft carrier decks or whatever. They know my piece of the world exists. They recognize we have issues. Obama in Alaska could bring a sense of connection to Alaskans, which may also translate to votes, but maybe that's not the main point. A president should represent all Americans, even the ones that may not vote for him. Obama's time will not be "wasted" there regardless of how many votes he sways.
June 26, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
In addition, Alaska is on the front lines of global warming. I doubt those whose live in places where buildings are collapsing from the melting of centuries-old permafrost think much of the "global warming is a liberal conspiracy" crowd. McCain's "I care about global warming, but not enough to show up to vote on it" may be a vulnerability.
June 26, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
In other words, we're about to be inundated with MSM stories about how terrible Obama is at ice-fishing.
June 26, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
Well it will be interesting to see if they do try to take him ice-fishing...in the summer.
;)
June 26, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's better at ice-fishing than McCain is at ice-skating.
June 26, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't doubt that for a minute. But I bet McLame is a better golfer. Gee, wouldn't it be interesting for a change to have a president who doesn't play golf?
June 26, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know about that one. McCain can't raise his arms above his shoulders.
June 26, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, Obama does play golf occasionally, just not as much as Bball. I saw some b-roll of him playing during an interview for the Hawaii primary. Plays lefty; professes to be very bad & rusty.
June 26, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama played the weekend after the primaries ended, remember? I think he watched Hillary's concession speech from the golf course.
June 26, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
Too funny.
And accurate, probably.
June 26, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
He'll do it, and he'll kick ass. We have some Congressional seats there he'd like to have.
June 26, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's in play baby.
Oh, and to answer an earlier query - I had fantastic, uninterrupted and FREE wi fi internet service during my stay at Anchorage's Ted Stevens International Airport. His staff must have been in the control room with plungers. Badoompssshh! Aaaah, thank you thank you.
Unlike Seattle, where you have to pay AT&T... cough cough. Sup w that Wash. State Delegation? Friggin' Microsoft in your backyard and can't give me some free wifi love?
June 26, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
O don't get me started on the Seattle airport and the people who work there.
I really hate that airport and I spend quite a bit of time there. I just hate it.
June 26, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not THAT far from Washington -- I'm sure he'll make it a quick combo trip.
June 26, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here guys, I know is off topic, below is a just released poll for the NJ Senate race. Recent polls, especially Rasmussen, showed a tighter race.
Fairleigh Dickinson University/PublicMind
6/17-22/08; 589 RV, MoSE 4%
New Jersey
Sen: Lautenberg (D-i) 45, Zimmer (R) 28
June 26, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
on to alaska? i think he could win alaska plus its a really nice vacation spot for us outdoorsy people
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/mccain-versus-the-internet/
June 26, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama can win Alaska. I was born and raised there and if there is one election Dems can win there it is this years.
Also, many Alaskans are very pissed at the GOP right now over the Exxon Valdez Oil spill litigation. Really pissed...
June 26, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink