Friday in the Sun!!! (May 6)

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Feeling The Bern — Maybe it’s just the loving band of Bernie supporters we get here in Alaska, but I’ve never viewed Sanders’ supporters as a particularly angry bunch.

That was until I posted a story about his campaign earlier this week. The irate comments from Bernie backers came flying in.

Thankfully, national news outlets interested in the story let me know it wasn’t just me. One national journalist told me “The way things have been lately at ###, any perceived criticism to Bernie is met with instant hostility.” Someone get those folks a Coke and smile.

Mike Gordon Signs — Mike Gordon is really serious about winning the campaign sign war against incumbent Rep. Harriet Drummond. Right now that isn’t hard since she’s stuck in Juneau hanging out with the other legislators, and it isn’t really yard sign season just yet. That isn’t stopping Gordon from stepping up his sign game.

These can now be seen around their Spenard House district:

P.S. – One high profile Democrat asked me what the deal is with so many Republicans — Amy Demboski, Treg Taylor, Tere Gales, and now Gordon — putting their faces on their signs.  What can I say, Republicans are just prettier ;)

Non-Endorsement, Endorsement — Yesterday, while speaking on radio station KTAR in Phoenix, Arizona with Sen. John McCain (R-Az), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark), and our very own Sen. Dan Sullivan were asked if the supported to GOP’s newly presumptive nominee for President Donald Trump.

All three seemed to go out of their way to avoid saying they support Donald Trump, but repeated the more generic “I support the Republican nominee.” Sen. Sullivan also called Trump’s ideas “not fully formed” and actually criticized him several times without really offering any defense of the candidate or his policies beyond being the GOP nominee. Listen for yourself:

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Hell Hath No Fury Like A Bern-er Scorned — Earlier in the week, I reported on a move by the Bernie Sanders campaign to cull over 200 names off the list of Bernie Sanders supporters going to the state convention who wanted to be Bernie selected as delegates to the national convention.

Word out of Dem circles is that move has upset those disavowed by Sanders so much they are trying to form an “uncommitted” caucus. Dem party rules on conventions are obnoxiously convoluted, explaining all the mechanics of the move would take a decent sized book. But if the group can get 15% of the state convention to side with them they could theoretically take a few delegates that should rightfully be Bernie’s at the national convention and send their own “uncommitted” folks instead.

Midnight Sun On The Air!!!!  — Master of Morning Radio Rick Rydell (AM 650 KENI) has asked us to come on every week and share Friday in the Sun with his audience. So listen for our inside scoop every Friday morning at 7:35.

Sad Peter, Happy Peter — The Alaska GOP Convention is over and it was a almost a rough one for now past Chairman Peter Goldberg. Goldberg really, really wants to go to the national convention.

The problem is the office he got elected to, National Committeeman, doesn’t take office until after the national convention in July, but state convention delegate changed party rules so his term as state party chairman ended at the conclusion of the state convention last week.

That means Goldberg was in a weird donut hole between offices that would have guaranteed him a spot at the national convention.

Goldberg attempted to get the convention to alter party rules so he stayed in office as party chairman until after the national, but that idea got voted down.

Poor Peter, he wasn’t going to get to go to the big dance, However I’m told the current National Committeeman Ralph Seekins isn’t interested in going to the national convention this year and has graciously offered to resign the position now so Goldberg can assume the seat and get his spot for the convention.

It all works out in the end.

Bad Call — Earlier this week someone commissioned Hayes Research to poll the folks in Senate District L (Lesil McGuire’s district). Unlike most polls, this one is interesting on multiple levels without even having the results.

First, they asked who among Natasha Von Imhof, Jeff Landfield, Rep. Craig Johnson, and Rep. Chris Tuck respondents would vote for. That’s intriguing because Johnson and Tuck aren’t declared candidates for that seat and two who are, Roselynn Cacy and Forrest McDonald weren’t included.

Second, even though the poll excluded Cacy—a fact any candidate would find insulting—it’s likely she knows all about it seeing she was one of those called to take the poll.

Third, Hayes is a polling firm usually used by Democrats, so the poll looks like an effort by someone in Democratic circles (Chris Tuck?) to determine what Tuck’s viability is against Republicans he’d potentially face.

This gives some legs to rumors that that Forrest McDonald was recruited to run for the Democratic Party’s spot on the ballot so that if Jeff Landfield were to win a surprise victory on the Republican side—a prospect Democrats see as very favorable to them—they could then switch Tuck for McDonald and possibly pick up the seat.

Begich Sighting — Mark Begich took a break this week from terrifying Republicans who think he is going to run for every high profile office in Alaska. Begich was seen having breakfast with President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović. Apparently the two have become friends as a result of Begich having been the only Croatian American elected to the U.S. Senate. Who knew?

Fly Into The Sun — If you have morsels you’d like shared in this column please email me at [email protected].

Some Upcoming Events You Can Find On  Our Political Calendar —

Tuesday, May 10

Thursday, May 12

What: Anchorage Young Republicans Elections 
Where: Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant
2052 E Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, Alaska 99508
When: 5:30-7:30 PM
Event Link: Click Here
Details: Come join the Anchorage Young Republicans as we hold our spring elections and raise money for our club! Listed below are the positions people can run for. Everyone is encouraged to get involved!

1. President
2. Vice President
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Communication Chair
6. Membership Coordinator
7. Fundraising Chair
8. Legislative Liason

Anyone interested in running, and would like more details please email Ryan at [email protected] May 7th is the deadline to sign up to run for a position.

Saturday, May 14