Gubernatorial candidates gear up for campaign's final days

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — On the final weekend before Tuesday’s general election, Alaska gubernatorial candidates Gov. Sean Parnell and Democratic challenger Ethan Berkowitz are campaigning in full force, from shaking hands to hitting the phone lines.  

They may not agree on much, but both Parnell and Berkowitz say reaching voters is critical with just two days left in the campaign.

Parnell, along with his running mate for lieutenant governor Mead Treadwell, took his message on the road Sunday during a bus trip from Anchorage to the Mat-Su Valley. On the way, the two candidates shared stories from the campaign trail.

“I was at a Samoan luau last night, where a bunch of dancers were all wearing Parnell/Treadwell stickers -- I felt pretty good about it,” Treadwell said.

The Republican nominees say they've been lucky to avoid much controversy, since this year’s spotlight is on the U.S. Senate race. They’ve run a campaign based on issues like finding jobs for Alaskans and preventing domestic violence.

“These volunteers have worked their hearts out communicating our message of hope and change, so I'm looking forward to Tuesday,” Parnell said. “I think the public is ready for the campaigning to be done, everybody to just get back to work and come together.”

Berkowitz stayed put but still reached out to voters, spending his Sunday calling many Alaskans alongside his team of volunteers. The Democratic nominee says voters need to know what he stands for.

“If Alaska's going to compete it needs to have a governor that is tough enough -- Sean is a nice guy, but he hasn't gotten it done,” Berkowitz said.

Berkowitz says voters need to shake up who's in the governor's office. During phone calls with voters, he answered questions and reminded them about what he's calls Parnell's mistakes.
       
“It comes back to the issues: who's going to deliver an all-Alaska natural gas pipeline, I've got a plan for an Alaska natural gas pipeline so we're not dead last in the country -- for our business climate, we've got a plan to move forward,” Berkowitz said.
          
The end is in sight, but the race isn't over yet. Both candidates say they are feeling confident going into Tuesday's election.

Contact Jackie Bartz at jbartz@ktuu.com