Dems warm to Alaska prospects in 2008

When it comes to representing Alaska in Congress, the longstanding rule is that Democrats need not apply.

But two veteran Republicans, Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young, are struggling with federal criminal investigations, and Democrats profess optimism about 2008.

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich and Ethan Berkowitz, a former state legislator, have both met in Washington with party officials.

The mayor is the more highly prized recruit, and several Democrats say he appears to be deciding between seeking the Senate seat, which runs for six years, or running for the House for personal reasons. Begich's father, Nick, was a first-term congressman when he was killed in a plane crash in 1972. He was also the last Alaska Democrat to serve in Congress.

Berkowitz, a former state legislator who lost a race for lieutenant governor in 2006, predicted in a recent interview he and Begich will sort out their ambitions amicably.

Begich agreed, and added that Stevens and Young remain formidable candidates despite their legal difficulties. "These are two people that we know to be tough fighters," he said. "They don't lay down easy."

Stevens, 83, and Young, 74, are both known for their outbursts of temper as well as their assiduous attention to the state's needs. Over the years, their seniority has allowed them to funnel billions of dollars in federal projects back home.

Age alone makes it clear they are in the twilight of their long congressional careers.

But Stevens is also under scrutiny for his relationship with oil field services contractor Bill Allen, who helped oversee a renovation project that more than doubled the size of the senator's Alaska home in 2000.

Allen's company, VECO Inc., won tens of millions of dollars in federal contracts, and he has pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska state lawmakers.

Young is under investigation for campaign finance practices, according to a federal law enforcement source, but hardly sounds ready to retire from politics.

"Those that cast stones better damn well not live in a glass house," he recently warned prospective opponents.

Rebecca Fisher, a spokeswoman for Senate Republicans, also expressed optimism. "Stevens is going to get re-elected," she predicted.

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With 22 seats to defend in the 2008 elections as well as a financial disadvantage, not even Republicans predict they will win control of the Senate.

"I think the odds are kind of tough," Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, said several weeks ago.

That leaves Democrats on offense, working to recruit top-tier challengers and position themselves for sizeable gains.

About 15 months before the elections, their record is mixed, and rather than appear bullish, they shudder at the occasional suggestion that they could wind up with a filibuster-proof majority of 60.

Democratic Rep. Mark Udall announced early on he would run for the seat held by retiring GOP Sen. Wayne Allard in Colorado. Former Rep. Bob Schaffer is the Republican contender.

In Maine, Democratic Rep. Tom Allen signed on to run against two-term Sen. Susan Collins.

In Alaska, party strategists quietly prefer a Begich candidacy, and it will be fall before he makes a decision.

In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch months ago turned down entreaties to run. Now Democrats are hoping former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen will challenge Sen. John Sununu, the man she lost to in 2002.

Democrats claim positive vibes from former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner. Veteran GOP Sen. John Warner has not said whether he will run for a new term. If not, Rep. Tom Davis has said he will seek the Republican nomination.

Comedian Al Franken and trial lawyer Mike Ciresi are the most prominent of several Democrats running against Sen. Norm Coleman in Minnesota.

In Oregon, Democrats are coalescing around the speaker of the state House of Representatives, Jeff Merkley, in their drive to unseat Sen. Gordon Smith. He was not their first choice, as evidenced by earlier attempts to recruit at least two members of the state's House delegation.

Democrats also sought unsuccessfully to enlist North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley to run against Sen. Elizabeth Dole. Ditto with Rep. Ben Chandler in Kentucky, who declined to challenge McConnell.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Democratic senatorial committee, has also spoken with former Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska about a comeback, in case two-term Sen. Chuck Hagel decides to retire.

Thus far, Republican recruiters have had scant success.

They had hoped Gov. Mike Rounds would run in South Dakota, where Sen. Tim Johnson barely won a second term in 2002. Johnson suffered a brain hemorrhage last December and has yet to return to work. Even so, he gives every appearance of running again, and with Rounds on the sidelines, state Rep. Joel Dykstra is the more prominent of two potential contenders.

The GOP also lists Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu as a top target, but is without a candidate. Nor is there an announced challenger to Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas.

GOP Rep. Dennis Rehberg declined to run against Sen. Max Baucus in Montana. So far, state Rep. Michael Lange is the only announced challenger, and his profanity-laced tirade earlier this year against Gov. Brian Schweitzer offended members of his own party.

Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate, counting independents who side with them. Recent fundraising showed the party's senatorial committee with more than $20 million in cash on hand, compared with $5.7 million for the GOP.

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Whatever challenges Democrat Mikal Watts faces as a Texas senatorial hopeful, money isn't one of them.

Nor will he need to hitch a ride to make his campaign stops.

A San Antonio-based trial lawyer, Watts announced recently he might run against Sen. John Cornyn. Out came the personal checkbook, and $3.8 million in personal loans and contributions later, he had as much money in his campaign account as the incumbent.

Watts also filed a financial disclosure statement recently that showed he owns two airplanes, a 1976 Westwind jet and a 1979 Cheyenne turboprop.

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Three House Republicans announced their retirement this week, including two former GOP leaders. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois and Ohio Rep. Deborah Pryce, the former No. 4 Republican, announced they would not seek re-election. Also not running for re-election is Rep. Chip Pickering of Mississippi.

While Republicans were bowing out, one Democrat jumped back in. Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois had announced his retirement, but now says he is seeking a ninth term.