Huckleberries: Vandal soaring in Alaska politics

For those keeping score at home, a former University of Idaho communications/journalism major has a good chance – mebbe a great one – of becoming Alaska’s next governor. Seems Sarah Palin, Vandal Class of ‘87, is poised to win a three-way race for the GOPrimary nod next Tuesday, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll. One of her opponents is unpopular Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski. Palin, a 40-something born in Idaho in 1964, is leading her two opponents handily with 43 percent support. She’s followed by businessman John Binkley with 30 percent and Murkowski with 17 percent among likely voters. (And you think U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman had a rough summer?) If she survives the primary, Palin will go into the fall campaign with a solid poll lead over Democrat Tony Knowles, a former Alaska governor. So what’s Sarah been doing since she left Moscow? According to her Web site, she worked in the media and utility industry before beginning her public service 14 years ago. That service included a stint as chairman of Alaska’s Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and two terms as strong mayor/manager of Wasilla, Alaska’s fastest-growing community. She hunts, fishes, and is married to Todd Palin, a three-time champion of the world’s longest snowmachine race (the Iron Dog). They have four kids with interesting names: Track, Bristol, Willow and Piper. You can read all about the Idaho-Improved Alaskan at www.palinforgovernor.com. And join Huckleberries in saying: “Go Vandal.”