Anchorage Daily News

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, sounding very much like a candidate, is forming an exploratory committee and will test how much support exists for him to challenge Ted Stevens for the U.S. Senate."Over the next few months I'll visit communities all across this state and ask them do they think it's time for change in Washington, D.C.," Begich said.

Begich, a 45-year-old Democrat, announced the committee Wednesday at a news conference in his East Anchorage home.

Begich said he would make a final decision on whether to run well before the June 1 filing deadline. He said the exploratory committee would allow him to raise funds from donors to travel and hear what Alaskans think about the issues.

"Taking this step allows me to talk and listen to Alaskans about whether the Senate is the best place for me to work for change for Alaska's future," he said. "And, more importantly, to listen to their challenges, their needs, their hopes, and their dreams for our great state."

Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in U.S. Senate history, released a statement saying Alaska needs a senator with clout and experience. Stevens said Begich told him that he was exploring a run.

"I know he faces a very difficult choice that may require him to disrupt his family, to leave a job he enjoys and to work for a job which would require him to be out of Alaska for months at a time," Stevens said. "I understand it is a tough decision for him."

Stevens was appointed in 1968 and has been re-elected seven times since. He's never had a close re-election campaign and often has faced minimal opposition.

The 84-year-old Stevens said that, regardless of who runs, he looks forward to a campaign focused on the issues and who can best represent the state.

Begich barely mentioned Stevens in his news conference announcing the exploratory committee.

"Anyone who enters this race thinking they are entering it because of issues with Sen. Stevens, they are entering it for the wrong reasons," Begich said.

Stevens is under federal investigation as part of the broad inquiry by the U.S. Justice Department and FBI into Alaska political corruption but has not been charged. Investigators are looking into his relationship with Veco, the now-defunct Alaska oil field services and construction company, including the company's involvement in the remodeling of Stevens' Girdwood home.

Begich previously said his biggest question about whether to run was whether political life in D.C. would be right for his family.

"The initial decision that was important to me was how does it work for our family, how does it work for me, my wife, our young son," Begich said. "We feel we can manage the change, we can manage the lifestyle change."

Begich said he would not step down as mayor while running for U.S. Senate. "I feel very confident that would not interfere with my job as mayor," he said.

Begich would first face Democratic Senate candidates Ray Metcalfe, Rocky Caldero and Frank Vondersaar in the primary if does decide to go after Stevens' seat.

Metcalfe is a well-known muckraker who would attack Begich relentlessly. He alleged the mayor is helping friends and campaign supporters "through rezones, land deals, and a parking garage deal that boils down to little more than a money laundering scheme."

Begich said Metcalfe has a history of just throwing out allegations "willy nilly."

"He's flat-out wrong," Begich said. "These are just political charges by another senatorial candidate."

Anchorage pollster Marc Hellenthal predicted Begich would stomp Metcalfe in the primary. But he said Metcalfe could "become a vehicle for negatives against Begich," that could affect the mayor's shot at the Senate.

Hellenthal said Begich's chance of beating Stevens is hard to predict because of the wild card: the federal investigation of the senator and his son Ben, a former state legislator.

"Things are extremely fluid. If Stevens gets indicted (Begich's) chances will be phenomenal, if Ben gets indicted they improve," said Hellenthal, who is not working for any Senate candidate.

Hellenthal said if neither of the Stevens' gets indicted it could still be anyone's race.

"It will be a real barnburner of an election," Hellenthal said. "Taking on Ted is no easy task."

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has already launched an attack website called begichbaggage.com. It touts "some things you should know about Mark Begich" but so far has nothing listed. "Coming soon," the web site promises.

National Democrats won't be shy about wading into the race either. Top U.S. Senate Democrats urged him to run and Begich is sure to attract a lot of national campaign money.

"We're fully supportive of him and if he decides to run as a candidate we'll be supportive," said Democratic Senatorial Congressional Committee spokesman Matthew Miller.

Begich said Alaskans tell him they want change.

"So many have urged me to run for the Senate that I believe I owe it to them and to all Alaskans to explore whether I can help move our entire state forward, as I've done for Anchorage," Begich said.

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