I was one of those conservative voters who voted for Nick Begich first, Mary Peltola second and Sarah Palin last. I would like to congratulate Mary Peltola on winning and wish her the best. I will remain openminded about voting for her in the general election as we get to know her better.
I would like to remind Alaska conservatives, though, that Mitch McConnell was on to something when he said “candidates matter.” In my opinion, this is a center-right country, not far right, not progressive left. Palin is not only extreme, she is an embarrassment. She threw the best senator we ever had — Ted Stevens — under the bus during her failed vice presidential campaign. She quit as governor to cash in on her newfound celebrity status. She mastered the one-liner, but as we got to know her we learned that there is “no there, there.”
The national media are attempting to parse the nuances of ranked choice voting. It is simple — lousy candidates lose. Palin is a lousy candidate.
— John Clark
Anchorage
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