Public corruption investigations, which have brought down a number of state lawmakers in Alaska over the past few years, are having their effect on races higher up on the ticket, a new poll shows. Perhaps more importantly, national Democrats now have a fifth race to put in their own top tier, seats they could win from Republicans in November.

The poll, conducted by independent pollster Research 2000 for DailyKos, was conducted 5/12-14 among 600 likely voters for a margin of error of +/- 4%. Incumbent Republican Ted Stevens and Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, the likely Democratic candidate, were tested. The survey sample was 32% Republican, 20% Democratic and 48% independent or otherwise affiliated.

General Election Matchup
(All / Dem / GOP / Ind / Men / Wom)
Begich 48 / 84 / 14 / 56 / 44 / 52
Stevens 43 / 7 / 76 / 36 / 48 / 38

Stevens, whose home was raided by the FBI in connection to a corruption case surrounding an oil services company, has been tarnished by the scandal. Just 38% of Alaskans view him favorably, while 58% see him in an unfavorable light. On the other hand, Begich is widely viewed positively; 52% of voters see him favorably, with just 25% saying they have an unfavorable impression of the mayor of the state's largest city.

If President Bush is to have an impact on down-ballot races, Stevens could face even more trouble. Just 39% of Alaska voters approve of Bush's job performance, while 61% disapprove, in a state that gave Bush a twenty-five point margin of victory in 2004. But Stevens, who has been a senator since 1968 and is lauded as the third leg of the Alaskan economy, is known widely enough that he can likely avoid the president's coattails.

The question national and Alaska Democrats will push now, though, is whether Stevens can avoid the coattails of VECO Corp., the company that has already sent a good number of GOP legislators to jail.