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Senate hopefuls roll out differing strategies

by Bill McAllister
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Two archetypal candidates are battling to represent Democrats in this year's primary race for Alaska's U.S. Senate seat: the conventional, establishment candidate and an aggressive outsider alleging corruption.

New moves reveal big differences in style between Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich and former state legislator Ray Metcalfe.

Begich hit the television airwaves throughout the state Tuesday with one ad introducing himself to non-Anchorage voters and another addressing energy issues.    

Meanwhile, Metcalfe doesn't have Begich's money, organization or long public service.    

But he's got some accusations, and one other thing -- a bus.

Begich began his TV campaign recalling the legacy of his father, Nick Begich, an Alaska Congressman whose plane disappeared while he was running for re-election in 1972.

"It's interesting when I travel. People know the name," Begich said. "They know of me. They want to know more about me. And that's what that first ad talks about."    

Begich touts his record as a two-term mayor of Anchorage and explains why he should replace 40-year Republican incumbent Ted Stevens, without naming him.

"People are frustrated that the doors of Washington are really closed to the average, everyday Alaskan, the Alaska families that deal with these issues, maybe energy or health care or veterans care and they think there's a lot of activity going on behind closed doors that they're not privy to," he said.    

It's a conventional approach for a mainstream candidate at this point in a campaign.    

But Begich is facing unusual tactics from his main opponent in the Democratic primary for the senate.    

Metcalfe, a self-proclaimed "anti-corruption crusader," says Begich has been involved in questionable real estate transactions, and he's planning a road show about it.

"My campaign has purchased a bus, and we're going to start advertising our three-hour tour," Metcalfe said. "We're going to take people around and show them how real estate is used to launder money into the pockets of politicians. We're going to show them the transactions; explain them. It gets pretty hard to deny when you see it."    

If the phrase "three-hour tour" reminds some of the old television program "Gilligan's Island," Metcalfe says he's making a sign to reflect that.

"The name of the bus is the U.S.S. Minnow," he said.    

Metcalfe says as soon as possible he'll begin daily tours of such sites as the National Archives property in Midtown, where he claims some funny business about the zoning enriched a business partner of both Stevens and Begich.    

Begich dismisses Metcalfe as a loose cannon.

"I think what you see from Ray is a lot of rock-throwing out there, because that's his style," Begich said. "I've answered everything he's put out there."    

So when Metcalfe takes to the streets to continue raising those questions, Begich will be above it all -- on the airwaves.

Metcalfe says he intends to get an ad on the radio soon alerting people to the tours.    

He says once he gets them going, they'll start at 1:30 p.m. daily at Henry's Great Alaska Restaurant at 80th Avenue and Old Seward Highway.    

After the tour, there will be a PowerPoint presentation. He says he expects tour goers to be deeply affected and then spread that heartfelt concern to their friends.

But it's hard to see how spending three or four hours a day with just 25 people is going to overcome Begich's campaign machine, long public record, name identification and television advertising.

Contact Bill McAllister at bmcallister@ktuu.com