You know a politician is in trouble when the people around him begin to walk away. And in the case of Ted Stevens, they’re walking away fast. Such is the case in Alaska where the state’s AFL-CIO has endorsed Stevens’ opponent for the first time in decades, according to Roll Call (subscription only).
Bucking tradition, the Alaska AFL-CIO has endorsed Sen. Ted Stevens’ (R-Alaska) opponent for the first time in recent history.
In what the union described as an unusually early decision, the 60,000-member organization voted this week to endorse Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) instead.
Alaska AFL-CIO President Vince Beltrami said the union endorsed Stevens in all of his re-election campaigns in recent memory, though Stevens had either a minimal or token challenger in many of those campaigns.
“My sense, having been a 20-year resident of the state, is that he’s not been not endorsed for decades,” Beltrami said. “So this is a significant departure.
Apparently the union has had a tradition of supporting Republicans in the state. They officially endorsed Don Young in the same meeting. Therefore, it must be a considerable measure how weak Stevens is and how likely they beleive Mark Begich will win. I’m starting to feel very confident about this race.
Hopefully the endorsment can help Young through the primary. haha
Hopefully Young makes it through is primary and then AK goes blue on all three national levels.