Alaskans are torn on Young and Stevens. They both have long track records of accomplishment for the state, marred by recent allegations (allegations, mind you) underwritten by money from the Lower 48. Alaskans are a proud bunch that has been taken advantage of by people Outside for decades.

A lot of political campaigning up here has been painfully obvious in its attempts to manipulate Alaskans. Ballot measure 4 was an attempt to stop development of the Pebble mine by deceptively making it look like a move to protect the environment -- and its proponents actually sent out a flyer invoking Reagan, like the Gipper would support such a thing.

In the last days before the primary, there was a flood of anti-Parnell stuff out there, clearly coming from Democrats on the Outside (fine print said it came from congressional democrats) and intended to shift votes away from Parnell.

People in Alaska have seen this way too often, usually from massive oil company ad campaigns designed to shift public opinion in their favor. As a result, Alaskans aren't so swift to throw the state's longstanding advocates under the bus.