A new survey shows, once again, that Republican Rep. Don Young trails his Democratic challenger and remains in terrible position in his battle for an 18th term in Congress. What makes the survey surprising is that the poll was conducted for a little-known Democrat unlikely to make it through the primary to face Young in November, suggesting Young's electoral position is all that much worse.

The survey, by Alaska-based Hays Research, was conducted 3/10-12 among 401 registered voters for a margin of error of +/- 4.9%. The poll was taken on behalf of former state Democratic Party chairman Jake Metcalfe, who, along with Young, was tested.

General Election Matchup
Metcalfe 45
Young 37

Generic Dem 41
Young 34

What the survey doesn't note is that Metcalfe's name identification is likely significantly below that of former State Representative Ethan Berkowitz, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Berkowitz, the 2006 Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, has a statewide profile and has led Young in earlier surveys, while Metcalfe's biggest claim to fame is as state party chair and as former head of the Anchorage School Board.

Ahead of the August 26 primary, Republicans Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell and State Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux will try to convince Alaskans to nominate them over the long-time incumbent, who is embroiled in a scandal involving an oil services company that has already seen several state legislators go to jail. Electability could prove a valuable argument to either candidate, and Alaska Republicans are not completely unwilling to kick out their incumbents: In 2006, now-Governor Sarah Palin ousted GOP incumbent Frank Murkowski by a wide margin. Palin is now backing Parnell in the primary.

But if Parnell can't overcome the Alaska institution that is Don Young, either because he splits the reform vote with LeDoux or the GOP electorate just isn't ready to oust Young, Democrats maintain a strong chance to pick up a House seat in one of the most Republican areas of the country. As the poll suggests, it may not matter that Berkowitz, the party's preferred candidate, make it through to November; with Young as unpopular as he is, any Democrat with a pulse stands a fighting chance.