Terry's Elections Guide and Predictions: Alaska
Governor (Open, Republican-held):
Tony Knowles (D) 51 - Sarah Palin (R) 48
This is my first tough call. Incumbent Republican governor Frank Murkowski is unbelievably unpopular; apparently appointing his own daughter to replace him in the U.S. Senate made him unpopular but not her. When Sarah Palin beat him in the primary she was able to take the change message away from Knowles, who was governor from 1994-2002 and lost the 2004 Senate election to Murkowski's already appointed daughter. Knowles has been inching back up lately by making the experience argument, since Palin's only experience is being mayor of Wasilla, which you've never heard of because it has about 800 people. So, how wrong is it to point out that Sarah Palin might be the best-looking candidate for high office this year? I say "kind of." I still hope she loses.