The Palin Effect

I wonder if the outcome in the Republican primary for Alaska’s lone congressional district would be any different if Palin had been picked a little earlier. In that race Palin’s lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell is about 150 votes behind incumbent Don Young, with absentee ballots and some provisional ballots yet to be counted. Young, who’s facing all sorts of ethical allegations, would be a much weaker candidate (in the general election) against the Democratic nominee, Ethan Berkowitz.

And then there’s the senate race where long-serving Sen. Ted Stevens (R) is in for a race of his lifetime. He faces popular Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) and polls have shown Stevens trailing Begich. Stevens was indicted on various corruption charges recently and the verdict in this trial is expected sometime before the November elections. Whether Stevens’ likely indictment will be a drag for Palin remains to be seen but here’s an ad Palin probably wishes didn’t exist.