R2000/DKos AK-SEN: Still Tight

Reserach2000/DailyKos Alaska Poll conducted 7/14-7/16 of 600 LVs:

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) 47%
Sen. Ted Stevens (R) 45%

When I first looked at the 2008 Senate races shortly after the 2006 Elections ended, I considered Alaska to be the safest Republican seat this cycle. After all, Stevens had won with almost 80% of the vote in his last two elections, and he was a legendary figure in Alaska politics, having served in the Senate in 1968. But a large corruption scandal involving many top Alaska Republicans (although not Stevens himself, yet) is threatening to take him down. The incredible part of this poll is that the race is so close even though Stevens has a -25 favorable rating, and Begich has a +25 favorable rating-with numbers like that you would expect this race to be a blowout. Independents are nearly half the vote in this poll, and Begich carries them by 53%-38%.

SLIGHT ADVANTAGE FOR BEGICH.