2008 Alaska Senate

Sen. Ted Stevens has never won re-election with less than 66% of the vote. If he is fortunate enough to win this year, it will likely be with far less than that. The six-term senator, who had been under federal investigation for at least a year, was indicted July 29 on seven felony counts of making false statements on his Senate financial disclosure forms. On Oct. 27, he was convicted on all 7 counts, all but crushing his re-election hopes.

After winning the seven-candidate August 26 primary with 64% of the vote, Stevens faces Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, a candidate Democrats feel is a credible and competent challenger to Stevens\'s throne. Stevens has been a senator almost as long as Alaska\'s been a state, and voters love the pork he\'s brought home -- just see how many structures in the state have his name on them.

National Republicans might have felt better about this race had Stevens declined to run for re-election. Still, Alaska has voted Republican for president in 11 of the 12 years its had a vote, and Democratic statewide candidates regularly begin with an uphill challenge. Stevens\' conviction, however, makes this seat all but gone.