Hulk Continue Running!

Ted Stevens' indictment has already caused the bottom to drop out on his campaign for re-election.

The first poll of Alaska voters since longtime Senator Ted Stevens was indicted Tuesday for trying to cover up more than $250,000 in illegal gifts finds the incumbent Republican dropping dramatically in the polls.

But 50% still regard Stevens favorably and don’t want him to resign. Two-thirds (66%) view him as at least as ethical as most politicians.

A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey, taken Wednesday night, shows Stevens trailing Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich by thirteen points, 50% to 37%. Just two weeks earlier, Begich had taken his first significant lead after the race had been a toss-up for months.

(I don't disagree with those polled about whether he's as ethical as most politicians. Exhibit A: Trent Lott, who allegedly encouraged witnesses to give false information in a recent lawsuit. When you've been in Washington as long as Lott or Stevens, the dirt sticks to you for a reason.)

Despite this, Stevens is gung-ho on running, and he wants the trial out of the way quickly.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan just set a tentative trial date of Sept. 24.

"I can appreciate why the senator would like to have this matter commence and concluded before the election," the judge said.

He set a hearing on Stevens' change-of-venue motion for Aug. 19.

Get this, the wrongdoing (false statements on disclosure forms) took place in Washington, but Stevens wants the venue changed to Alaska, where his name is all over everything, including the airport.

What interesting is that more allegations are coming out of the woodwork now, including a campaign treasurer who is also a lobbyist, and who has LOBBIED STEVENS recently on behalf of fishing interests.

Meanwhile the rest of the Senate Republican Caucus is veering far away from their elder statesman, with the exception of Liddy Dole, who apparently wants there to be a giant papier-maché "Kiss" sculpture following her around on the campaign trail.



This is starting to look like a major pickup, one of five that look very good right now in the Senate (Colorado, New Hampshire, Virginia and New Mexico being the others), along with the other competitive opportunities (Minnesota, Mississippi, Maine, and Oregon). Democrats have to make sure the culture of corruption meme infects all of these races.