OPEN LETTER ABOUT SENATE RACE

Ray Metcalfe
Anchorage, AK
Oct. 9, 2004

While the leading U.S. Senate candidates exchange barbs over ANWR, neither has offered a means of finding the votes to open it.

Either candidate could open of ANWR by simply tying ANWR to their vote for control of the U.S. Senate.

If control of the U.S. Senate chairmanships were hanging in the balance, Democrats would promptly reverse their opposition and produce the votes to open ANWR if doing so gave them all of the committee chairmanships.

The problem is that neither Lisa nor Tony are willing to place the interest of all Alaskans above the interest of their political parties. If you doubt this, the next time you see them, ask the following:

1. Lisa:
   If your election results in a one vote majority for the Republicans, would you be willing to abandon the Republicans and hand the Democrats the one vote they need to control the Senate, if they would offer you the votes to open ANWR?

2. Tony:
   If your election results in a one vote majority for the Democrats, would you be willing to condition your vote for Democrat control of the Senate on their delivery of enough votes to open ANWR?