Anchorage Daily News

JUNEAU -- Hardly a day went by this summer in Alaska without Barack Obama's campaign producing a news release or calling reporters.

Press secretary Jeff Giertz was a fixture on local news. State politicians touted Obama's energy plan. A national campaign aide suggested this traditionally Republican state's three electoral votes were up for grabs.

Then came Republican Gov. Sarah Palin, who has delivered a blow to Obama's slim hopes of capturing Alaska on Nov. 4.

Obama's high profile in Alaska has taken a precipitous slide since Aug. 29, when Palin joined Sen. John McCain on the Republican presidential ticket.

Two of Obama's Alaska campaign offices have consolidated into one and another didn't open as advertised. One of two press secretaries assigned to Alaska has left.

Alaskans last chose a Democrat for the presidency in 1964, when they backed Lyndon Johnson by a 2-1 margin over Barry Goldwater. Since 1980, the state has sent an all-Republican congressional delegation to Washington.

Of the state's 482,045 registered voters, 121,338 are Republicans, 73,876 are Democrats and 256,516 haven't chosen a party -- a bloc the Obama campaign had hoped to win over.

Obama spokeswoman Nayyera Haq would not disclose personnel details, but said the campaign is still planning several rallies and parties tied to the upcoming candidate debates.

"If you walk into our offices, there are volunteers and paid staffers enthusiastic about what the Obama-Biden ticket can do," Haq said.

With the presidential race very tight, Alaska Democrats aren't expecting Obama to visit Alaska -- a prospect raised in July. Julie Hasquet, spokeswoman for Democratic Senate candidate Mark Begich, said it wasn't realistic to expect a visit.

"Initially, yeah, we thought might see him," Hasquet said. "But when your governor is running for vice president, it makes it more difficult for the opposing candidate to do well in that state."

She even suggested Palin's popularity might help Begich topple GOP Sen. Ted Stevens, who is on trial in federal court in Washington on charges that he failed to disclose more than $250,000 in home repairs and other gifts he received from an oil contractor.

"We think that if people are voting for Sarah Palin because she's a reformer, anti-corruption, against the good-old-boys network, then people should be voting for Mark Begich," Hasquet said. "He's known as an independent leader."

The Obama campaign has offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Palmer staffed with paid workers, Haq said. It has an office in Homer, about a four-hour drive south of Anchorage, staffed by volunteers.

The Alaska GOP, meanwhile, has opened new offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

ADVERTISEMENT