Probably just wants the backdrop of himself in AK, with Anwar, etc to emphasize energy, rather then hoping to win Alaska's handful of electoral college votes.

Greg,
I agree w/ you. I think Obama will do the 50 state campaign and let the entire country know he will be the president for everyone and help turn Alaska at least purple if not blue!

well...alaska wasn't even a state until 1958, so JFK was probably jsut stopping by to welcome them into the electoral college and to welcome them to participate in the process.

That said, given the fact that there are maybe 60 people in the whole state, its not a great place to spend resources youdont have. Probably why no dem has campaigned there since kennedy.

But obama does have the resources, so why not?

The other thing about this is that - while I too have been pretty disappointed in Obama's lack of fight early in this campaign vs. McCain - I think that local visits with local TV and newspapers carries a lot of weight. At this point in the game, I can understand his campaigns strategy to get on the ground in key states talking about key issues and not worry so much about the national temperature gauge of the country if you will.

He's still trying to get people to know him and he seems to be taking on the Iowa approach, only this time there are 50 states. Since it's June/July, he has some time to do this. BUT...he has to be sure to balance his messaging, advertising, and most importantly, HE needs to be the one that's on the offensive. He can't allow McCain to continue to define the debates.

This isn't Clinton anymore where he treated her with kid gloves since it was dem vs. dem. This is now McCain...the guy whose flipped on every issue he supposedly stands for. They need to hit him and hit him hard over this.

Again, being July, they have some time do not do this, but they better be getting ready to come hard at McCain. At the end of the day, I think/pray/hope that what happens to him is what happens to Bush.

That's to say, like Bush, McCain is still liked by a lot of people and has a good percentage right now. But once people know him more and develop a negative attitude of him, it's very, very difficult to get those people back on board. See Bush's approval rating.

Begs the question, though: Do Republican presidential candidates campaign in Alaska very often either?

I don't know that I relish JFK comparisons -- he only managed a win because the Daley machine turned out the cemetery vote.

I want an honest to God blowout!

The last poll taken only had him down 4 in AK. Looks like it could be worth a trip to me.

Between the scandals of Ted Stevens, Don Young and Laura McCann...plus the GOP push to open the ANWR, I think that puts the normally "safely republican" state of Alaska very much into play.

By dedicating at least SOME time and resources into Alaska, it puts the GOP on the defensive, fighting to preserve a 'win', rather than fighing to secure a 'battleground' state. Yes, this is the Dean 50 state strategy and I believe that it will work, especially against a campaign who is geared to fight in 5-10 states and leave the rest to their own devices.

With Stevens' and Young's corruption scandals ongoing and a very strong D candidate in Begich, Barack's efforts will help Ds snatch a Senate and a House seat next November.