Salty Senate Candidates Heating Up Alaska

GOP incumbent Ted Stevens has a rough-and-tumble challenge in Mark Begich

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 19, 2008 4:18 PM CDT

(Newser) – A sweltering Senate contest looks likely to warm up Alaska come November, Katherine Rizzo writes in the Wall Street Journal, as “cantankerous bully” and 40-year incumbent Ted Stevens faces the mayor of Anchorage in what’s already a mudfest. Democrat Mark Begich has reminded voters of Stevens’ convict friends and of the federal search of the Republican's home—and Ted has pushed right back.

The 84-year-old incumbent has let Alaskans know that Begich, 46, has defaulted on loans, run into IRS trouble—and even (in 1993) evicted a low-income tenant on Christmas Eve. Make sure to monitor BegichBaggage.com and RetireTed.com for more sure-to-come dirt on “No Santa Claus” Mark and “Bridge to Nowhere” Stevens.

In this Oct. 16, 2007, file photo, Sen. Ted Stevens. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

Begich and Stevens (AP composite)

In this Feb. 27, 2008, file photo, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

FBI Raids Alaska Senator's Home

Feds probe politician's ties to oil contractor in corruption probe

(NEWSER) - FBI and IRS agents raided the vacation home of Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska yesterday, seeking records of his relationship with a oil field contractor jailed in a corruption probe, AP reports. The contractor profited from tens of millions of dollars in federal contracts and also supervised the renovation of Stevens' home, more than doubling its size. More»

Alaska GOP Calls for Senate Race Do-Over

Palin, party leader say Stevens would have won without felony raps

(NEWSER) - The head of Alaska's Republican Party is calling for Democratic Sen. Mark Begich to step down and clear the way for a new election now that felony misconduct charges have been dropped against former Sen. Ted Stevens, reports the Anchorage Daily News. Stevens would not have lost in November if voters had known the "corrupt" Department of Justice would drop its case against him, claims Randy Reudrich. More»

DOJ Pulls Prosecutors Off Stevens Case

Judge finds lawyers in contempt for withholding documents

(NEWSER) - The Justice Department has yanked the team that prosecuted Ted Stevens off any future action in the case, Politico reports, after the judge found four of the lawyers—including chief prosecutor Brenda Morris—in contempt. Morris and company raised the judge’s ire by withholding documents related to FBI agent Chad Joy’s accusations that the prosecution concealed evidence that would have helped the defense. More»

Agent, Witness in Stevens Case Had a Fling, Defense Says

Ted's team wants new trial over secret-sharing

(NEWSER) - Lawyers for former Sen. Ted Stevens say the head FBI agent in his corruption case got a little too cozy with a key witness against Stevens, Politico reports. The defense lawyers cite an FBI whistleblower's memo that “strongly suggests that the inappropriate relationship” between the agent and an oilman “was sexual”—and that agent Mary Beth Kepner “wore a skirt” for Bill Allen the day he testified. More»

Sen. Murkowski Asked Bush for Stevens Pardon

Friends say former senator would rather clear name through courts anyway

(NEWSER) - Sen. Lisa Murkowski asked President Bush to pardon former Alaska Republican colleague Ted Stevens, the Anchorage Daily News reports. But Stevens would rather fight his corruption conviction in court, friends say, because he felt a pardon would taint his legacy. Murkowski wrote that she did not want to see Stevens, 85, spend the rest of his life involved in litigation. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Salty Senate Candidates Heating Up Alaska

GOP incumbent Ted Stevens has a rough-and-tumble challenge in Mark Begich

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Alaska • FBI • IRS • Ted Stevens • eviction • negative campaigning • Mark Begich

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

FBI Raids Alaska Senator's Home

Feds probe politician's ties to oil contractor in corruption probe

Alaska GOP Calls for Senate Race Do-Over

Palin, party leader say Stevens would have won without felony raps

DOJ Pulls Prosecutors Off Stevens Case

Judge finds lawyers in contempt for withholding documents

Agent, Witness in Stevens Case Had a Fling, Defense Says

Ted's team wants new trial over secret-sharing

Sen. Murkowski Asked Bush for Stevens Pardon

Friends say former senator would rather clear name through courts anyway

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Salty Senate Candidates Heating Up Alaska

GOP incumbent Ted Stevens has a rough-and-tumble challenge in Mark Begich

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Alaska • FBI • IRS • Ted Stevens • eviction • negative campaigning • Mark Begich

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

FBI Raids Alaska Senator's Home

Feds probe politician's ties to oil contractor in corruption probe

Alaska GOP Calls for Senate Race Do-Over

Palin, party leader say Stevens would have won without felony raps

DOJ Pulls Prosecutors Off Stevens Case

Judge finds lawyers in contempt for withholding documents

Agent, Witness in Stevens Case Had a Fling, Defense Says

Ted's team wants new trial over secret-sharing

Sen. Murkowski Asked Bush for Stevens Pardon

Friends say former senator would rather clear name through courts anyway

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?