Tough Sledding Ahead For Alaska Republicans

The November prospects of Alaska's two long-time Republican stalwarts - Senator Ted Stevens and Representative Don Young - are not looking good.

A new poll conducted by Research 2000 on behalf of the liberal Daily Kos website shows Stevens trailing Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich 48 to 43 percent, The poll showed Young trailing his likely Democratic opponent, former state House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz, 50 to 40 percent.

Both Republicans sported very high unfavorable ratings, according to the poll. Stevens and Young's unfavorable ratings were at 58 percent, while their favorable ratings were at 38 percent. .

The poll surveyed 600 likely Alaska voters from May 12-14, and has a margin of error of 4 percent. The numbers are consistent with other recent public polling on the Alaska races.

Stevens and Young have spent the past year bedeviled by ethics investigations and are both facing credible primary challenges from reformist elements within the party. The more serious challenge is against Young, who will be facing lieutenant governor Sean Parnell in the August 26 primary.

Last summer, Stevens' house was raided by federal agents as a result of an influence-peddling scandal involving the oil services company VECO. He is also under federal investigation for his role in directing federal funds to a nonprofit run by a former aide.

House Democrats and Republicans asked the Justice Department last month to investigate Young for his role procuring a $10 million earmark for the "Coconut Road interchange", a Florida development project that would benefit a donor even though it was opposed by the local community.

-- Avi Zenilman