Indicted Sen. Stevens Wins Alaska Primary
Alaska Republicans gave U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, currently facing a federal indictment, a primary victory on Tuesday.
Itsets up a November election race with possibly the toughest opponentStevens has ever faced in his 40 years in public office, squaring offagainst popular Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich.
Stevens won hisprimary with 63 percent of the vote. Begich easily won his Democraticprimary over two minor challengers with 91 percent of the vote.
Aloud crowd of supporters gathered at Stevens’ headquarters, and set offa loud cheer when the first results were announced. When they wereposted, Stevens walked closer to the big-screen television, adjustedhis glasses and said, “Looks good to me,” before flashing a huge grin.
Begich, for his part, and a throng of his sign-carrying supporterswalked to the city’s convention center. “It’s clear to me people wantnew ideas,” Begich said.
Stevens faces trial next month on sevenfelony charges, and political analysts say these primary results couldset the tone for the November vote.
Federal prosecutors allegeStevens lied on Senate disclosure reports to conceal more than $250,000in home renovations and gifts from oil industry executives. He wascaught up in a federal investigation of corruption in Alaska politicsthat has seen three state lawmakers sent to federal prison and two moreawaiting trial. All five are Republicans.
In Florida, meanwhile,Tom Rooney, a lawyer and former Army officer won a tight three-wayRepublican primary to compete in November for the office once held bydisgraced Rep. Mark Foley.
The race had been closely watchednationally as Republicans try to take back the congressional seat lostafter Foley resigned amid reports he sent lurid messages to teenagemale congressional pages.