KTUU - Begich Holds 'Get Out the Vote' Rally
Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich held a rally in downtown Anchorage Wednesday at the same time Sen. Ted Stevens was getting a warm homecoming following Stevens' trial in Washington, D.C.
On the home stretch to Election Day, Begich tried to rally his supporters and get voters ready for Nov. 4.
"Those folks that think their vote doesn't count, this is the election. I guarantee you it will count," Begich told the crowd. "It will make the difference and pull us over the top."
Begich never mentioned Stevens by name and didn't talk about the guilty verdict, but the crowd knew what he was trying to say.
"It's time that we have a representative in the U.S. Senate that understands the people's needs, understands the critical issues we face, and never forgets that Alaska comes first," Begich said.
Begich has stopped short of calling on Stevens to resign, but many of the mayor's supporters said it's time for the senator to say good-bye.
"He's just been in too long, and he thinks he's above the law," said Begich supporter Colleen Rutledge. "He didn't even think that he was doing anything wrong."
Other supporters feel that Stevens' pledge to fight his conviction would interfere with fighting for Alaska's needs.
"What I really fear is that if he stays in and somehow he gets re-elected, there's really nothing he's going to be able to do for the state of Alaska, because he's going to be too busy fighting his court battles," said Begich supporter Vince Beltrami.
While Begich didn't take on Stevens directly, he did fire back at the state Republican party's position that Alaskans should re-elect Stevens to keep the door open for a special election later if Stevens decides to step down.
"I think it's a crazy ploy," the mayor said. "It's basically a scam on the voters."
Begich said he's not taking anything for granted come Election Day, even with Stevens' conviction.
Begich will be in Juneau on Friday to campaign, and then in Kenai on Saturday. After heading to Fairbanks on Sunday, he will head back to Anchorage on Monday for the final day of campaigning before Tuesday's election.