POL318 Assignment #3
“In the battle for Washington, D.C., both Lisa Murkowski and Tony Knowles have made ANWR drilling a key issue.” (KTUU-Moore)
The Issue:
Federal government “approval of oil drilling in a small sliver of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge--an area the size of Washington-area Dulles International Airport in an area the size of Delaware.”(National Journal)
The Candidates Positions:
Tony Knowles Position :
-“Tony Knowles supports responsible development of oil in the coastal plain of The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.” ('Knowles Issues':Website)
Lisa Murkowski’s Position :
Lisa Murkowski is “Championing development in ANWR…” ('Lisa’s Vision': Website)
Knowles’ Portrayal of Murkowski on the issue:
Knowles attacks Murkowski’s inability to pass ANWR drilling because Knowles characterizes that “‘The Murkowski way for 24 years has been to point fingers, criticize, attack and blame. And we need a new way.’”(KTUU-Doogan)
Murkowski’s Portrayal of Knowles on the issue:
Murkowski claims that “‘The issue here is Tony Knowles' failure for Alaska on the ANWR issue and his avoiding answering Alaskans and really apologizing for his failure[to open ANWR] by trying to distract us with something completely unrelated,.’”(KTUU-Moore)
Candidate Representation:
--- Both candidates are representing the wishes of the broad, geographic constituency by supporting drilling:
"More than 75% percent of Alaskans support exploration and production on the Coastal Plain of ANWR"(Arctic Power)
Factors that effect the Broad Constituency's position: “Politically, Alaska is heavily Republican.”
“ Alaska remains heavily dependent on oil and on the federal government” (Nat.Jou.)
“Oil and gas companies in Alaska are making huge investments in Alaska right now and are expected to continue to do so in 2004.”(ABMonthly-Martin)
"Alaska Unemployment: 8.6% unemployed" (Nat. Jou.J)
--- Both candidates are representing their partisan and election constituencies by attacking the other candidates effectiveness.
-Because the state is so heavily Republican (Alaska voted for Bush 59-28% in 2000 (Nat.Jou.)) and agrees so much on this issue, the problem is that the candidates are representing as broad as possible constituency in their positions.
Good/Bad Representation?:
-Both candidates are doing a good job of representing their consitutents because so much of the consitutiency agrees with them on this issue.(Arctic Power) Given such agreement on the issue, if one candidate was doing a bad job on this issue, then polls would reflect that candidate losing support. Polls show that the race " is as tight as ever."(KTUU-I.Moore)