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Well, look who’s popular. Alaska has reached the “company’s coming” stage of the election, and apparently everybody in Washington knows our address now. Quick, get the brand new Carhartt coat ready for the photo-op!

Vice President JD Vance dropped into Fairbanks last Monday, rallying Republicans at the airport, talking up Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Nick Begich and taking swings at Mary Peltola. The gist: Alaska needs Republicans, Republicans need Alaska and everybody needs to vote, preferably for the people standing next to Vance because those commie socialists are takin' over. Or something.

Next up: President Donald Trump, scheduled to speak at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Wasilla’s Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center. Doors open at noon, with the program beginning at 2 p.m., should you want to make an afternoon of it.

And Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is coming for the Alaska Republican Party’s Oct. 16 gala in Anchorage. At this rate, we should issue punch cards. Visit five times, get a complimentary fleece vest.

The reason for all this sudden affection? Helping Sullivan and Begich keep their seats and Republicans keep control of Congress. Funny how much attention three electoral votes can command when congressional seats are on the line.

But I’ll admit it: I’m kind of excited to hear what Trump lambasts. Because you know something, or someone, is getting the treatment.

Will he endorse a candidate for governor now that Alaska’s Republicans are eating each other? Will somebody leave with a presidential blessing and somebody else with a new nickname? How many news outlets will get called “fake”? Will there be a Sarah Palin sighting? (Who?!?! Oh, you remember.) Should your friendly neighborhood opinion wrangler prepare a bingo card? 

There’s an entire afternoon of potential plot twists here, folks, and I'm looking forward to taking it all in. Stay tuned, Opinion junkies. We’ll find out Tuesday.

If you're as excited as I am about the events of the week, drop me a letter to the editor at letters@adn.com or use our web form to offer up your take on what's shaping Alaska.

— Gary Black, opinion editor

Anchorage Daily News
gblack@adn.com

From the ADN Editorial Board

Fifty-four billion reasons to read the fine print

President Trump says South Korea is investing $54 billion in the Alaska LNG gas line project. South Korea says hold up, not so fast. An announcement like that — made just weeks before an election with an incumbent Republican senator locked in a tight race — isn’t a proclamation of economic development. It’s campaign theater.

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Letters to the editor

The double standard in politics

There is definitely a double standard when it comes to Mary Peltola’s allegedly abusive behaviors.

Sullivan's votes are what guide my votes

My decision about whom to vote for in the upcoming election for U.S. senator is based on two questions. 

About that $54 billion investment from South Korea ... 

The Daily News headline read that the president announced that South Korea was going to invest $54 billion in the Alaska natural gas pipeline on behalf of Sen. Dan Sullivan’s faltering campaign. Someone should have told South Korea.

Mary Peltola is imperfect, as are we all

I am shocked and dismayed by the claims made in The New York Times article and find them completely out of character for the woman I have admired and appreciated for so long.

Anti-Sullivan ads don’t tell the whole story on stock trades

I have grown frustrated at the nonstop negative ads about Sen. Dan Sullivan, so I did some homework on the claim that bothered me the most. 

Who's a communist?

By calling Democrats communists, the current administration is deflecting concern about its direct involvement in capitalism and private ownership. It’s time to reverse this trend if we want to remain a democracy.

Inside the intricacies of this election cycle

This election cycle has snuck into my cellphone texts like never before.

Colorful language comes with selective outrage

My only question to those outraged Alaskans would be: Did they vote for Don Young or Donald Trump? 

Care closer to home matters

This election season, I urge Alaskans to ask candidates how they will support practical investments that bring care closer to rural patients and keep those services available for years to come.

Commentaries