In an extraordinary week of travel, Alaska’s leading candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives covered over 1,000 miles in just three days to participate in three crucial debates addressing the state’s pressing federal issues.
Despite the demanding schedule, both candidates insisted that the intense pace was typical for campaign life. “It was a very busy day in terms of media attention, but no busier than a normal campaign day,” remarked Republican candidate Nick Begich following Thursday’s debate in Fairbanks.
Begich is in a race against incumbent Democratic Representative Mary Peltola. The two candidates undertook a swift journey, traveling from Anchorage to Kodiak, then on to Fairbanks, and back to Anchorage. For reference, this distance is akin to traveling between St. Louis and Boston in the contiguous United States.
The general election campaign is anticipated to feature six forums or debates where both leading candidates will share the stage. Three of these events are scheduled for this week, including two on Thursday.
“After the debate is over and the cameras are off, I’m going to Kenai the next day and Juneau the day after. So we’re not stopping,” Begich added, highlighting his commitment to maintain momentum.
Peltola shared insights about the demanding nature of her campaign schedule, noting that promoting tourism in the Alaskan bush can be even more challenging than a packed week of debates. “We’ll be going to nine places for 10 days,” she stated.
During a recent campaign trip, she traveled to Fairbanks, then Kotzebue, followed by Nome, returning to Fairbanks before driving to Nenana, all within just a few days.
When asked whether the campaign was more challenging mentally or physically, Peltola emphasized the physical toll. “If you’re on a nine-day trip and you’re on the road every day, you’re ‘on’ all day, doing events, dealing with all kinds of weather — you never have a private space — it’s physical,” she explained.
Peltola also reflected on the impact of the campaign on her personal well-being, saying, “A lot of my colleagues, all women, just say, ‘Well, how much weight have you lost? How much weight have you lost?’ Like, how many sizes have you lost because you can’t [eat]? I think campaigning is the best way to lose weight, other than an unexpected divorce, because you’re just nervous and angry.”
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