Anchorage Daily News

Barack Obama called in to the Daily News on Saturday from Boise, Idaho, where he was campaigning. Obama is the only Democratic presidential candidate with an Alaska campaign office. He sent paid staffers north to organize for Tuesday's caucuses.

He discussed the importance of Alaska delegates, his opposition to opening ANWR to oil drilling, the proposed natural gas pipeline and his relationship with Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. Excerpts follow.

Q. Why did your campaign open an Alaska office?

A. As somebody who grew up in Hawaii I knew what it was like to be neglected in national politics. And so we thought, if we could get some resources and get some organizers out there we might actually be able to make a difference.

Q. How does Alaska, with just 13 unpledged delegates to the Democratic national convention, fit into your national campaign strategy?

A. Every delegate is going to count. This is really a delegate contest, particularly because Democrats don't have a lot of winner-take-all states. Even if you win a big state like California, for example, the second place finisher is not going to get that many fewer delegates unless it is a complete blowout, which at this point it won't be for any candidate. So that means this is a ground game, a game of inches, and Alaska can make a huge difference.

Q. Have you ever been to Alaska?

A. I have never been to Alaska. It's one of I think maybe four states I have not been to, maybe three now because I hadn't been to Idaho before and I'm here today. But I'm looking very much forward to getting up there as soon as possible because I hear it is beautiful.

Q. What do you think of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?

A. I'm opposed to ANWR drilling. I recognize that the oil and gas industries are enormous economic boons to the state and important to the entire United States economy. But I also believe that the physical beauty of Alaska is one of the world's great treasures. And we have to preserve it, particularly in light of the fact that climate change is accelerating more rapidly than we expected. And I think the people of Alaska are going to have to make a whole host of adjustments as things like the permafrost soften. Those are critical issues that have to be dealt with, and we can't drill our way out of those problems. We are going to have to instead try to use our energy more wisely and I think the people of Alaska recognize that."

Q. Are you familiar with the effort to build a natural gas pipeline to the Lower 48?

A. I am familiar with it and I know it's been bogged down with a wide range of controversy. So one of the commitments I would make as president would be to make sure I am working cooperatively with the state government in Alaska, Republicans and Democrats, to try to strike the right balance between economic development and tapping into our natural resources, but also understanding that our most important resource is the land itself.

Q. What is your relationship with Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens?

A. I've had cordial relations with Senator Stevens. We don't serve on any committees together, as far as I can tell, although now that I am on the Homeland Security Committee I think Senator Stevens may be on that. But we haven't had a lot of interaction. Obviously he's been very good for the state of Alaska. What is also true is that he and I obviously have some philosophical differences when it comes to our politics.

Find Sean Cockerham online at adn.com/contact/scockerham or call him at 257-4344.

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