A new Dittman Research poll shows Republican Dan Sullivan is six points ahead of Democrat Mark Begich in the U.S. Senate race.
The research was funded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It ran a pro-Sullivan ad in April and today officially announced it’s endorsement of Sullivan. The poll shows Sullivan at 49 percent, and Begich at 43 percent.
The phone survey of 800 voters was conducted last week. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
The U.S. Chamber, in a written statement, pledged to put its “full weight” behind Sullivan. It has already spent more than $23 million to promote Republican congressional candidates around the country. That puts it in second place among groups making independent expenditures to influence the outcome of federal elections this year.
In response to today’s announcement, Begich campaign spokesman Max Croes said the Koch Brothers and Sullivan’s parents are spending millions to buy the Alaska Senate seat.
The Kochs are wealthy industrialists who, according to news reports, have given the U.S. Chamber at least $2 million.
Sullivan’s parents and his brother have contributed at least $680,000 to independent groups running ads to promote Sullivan’s candidacy. Sullivan’s brother also sits on the board of the U.S. Chamber.
Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
