Begich's strategy in Alaska: Make Obama "irrelevant"

As he waits to see which of three Republican opponents survive the hotly contested GOP primary in August, the one issue on which Begich is most eager to cite his solidarity with Obama is something that might surprise outside observers: He recently released a statewide radio ad touting his own support for — and the Republican candidates’ opposition to — abortion rights.

Left-leaning media organizations such as the Daily Kos interpreted this move as a bold one from a “proud Democrat” who is not “running scared” in a red state.

Though recent statewide polling on the issue is scarce, the Alaska electorate generally favors broad-based “individual freedoms” and traditionally has leaned toward Begich’s position on abortion rights. (Even the state’s Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, has a mixed record on the issue.)

In voicing this stance, Begich noted that he is in line with the voters he is hoping to represent for another term.

“One thing that hasn’t changed is we’re very libertarian when it comes to some of these issues, and we don’t believe that government should be interfering in our personal and private lives,” Begich said. “. . . No one is for abortion, but giving choice is very important and I think it’s important the differences be made clear.”