The Republican Governors Association released poll numbers today showing Alaska Governor Sean Parnell strongly positioned to win election this November.

The poll, conducted by Basswood Research, tested a one-on-one match-up against Democrat Ethan Berkowitz as well as a three-way contest featuring Parnell, Berkowitz and Bill Walker.

Governor Parnell leads by 14 points in both scenarios.

“Governor Parnell has among the highest favorability ratings of any governor in the country and will win regardless of what the gubernatorial field ultimately looks like,” said RGA Communications Director Mike Schrimpf. “In fact, Governor Parnell’s strength in both a two-person and a three-person race is a true testament to his popularity and standing with the citizens of Alaska.”

There are 37 gubernatorial elections taking place this year, and the RGA has the financial resources necessary to make an impact in a record number of states. As of the most recent campaign finance deadline, the RGA reported having $40 million cash on hand.

Basswood Research

Survey of Alaska General Election Voters; August 29, 2010

Q1. -   IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN ALASKA THIS NOVEMBER FOR GOVERNOR, SENATOR, CONGRESS, AND OTHER LOCAL RACES, WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE VERY LIKELY TO VOTE, ONLY SOMEWHAT LIKELY TO VOTE, OR NOT LIKELY TO VOTE?  IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE IN ALASKA, JUST SAY SO.

-  400  Total

-  400  100.0 VERY LIKELY

Q2. -  PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER YOU HAVE A FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE OPINION OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING.  IF YOU HAVE NO OPINION OR HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PERSON, JUST SAY SO.

“SEAN PARNELL”

-  400  Total

-  244   61.0 FAVORABLE

-  114   28.5 UNFAVORABLE

-   37    9.3 NO OPINION

-    5    1.3 NEVER HEARD OF

Q3. -  IF THE ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR WAS HELD TODAY, AND THE CANDIDATES WERE SEAN PARNELL, THE REPUBLICAN, AND ETHAN BERKOWITZ, THE DEMOCRAT, FOR WHOM WOULD YOU VOTE?

-  400   Total

-  217   54.3 PARNELL

-  159   39.8 BERKOWITZ

-   24    6.0 UNDECIDED

Q4. -  IF THE ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR WAS HELD TODAY, AND THE CANDIDATES WERE SEAN PARNELL, THE REPUBLICAN, ETHAN BERKOWITZ, THE DEMOCRAT, AND BILL WALKER, THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY CANDIDATE, FOR WHOM WOULD YOU VOTE?

-  400  Total

-  183   45.8 PARNELL

-  129   32.3 BERKOWITZ

-   57   14.3 WALKER

-   31    7.8 UNDECIDED

Q5. -  WITH WHICH POLITICAL PARTY ARE YOU REGISTERED?

-  400   Total

-   74   18.5 DEMOCRATIC

-  119   29.8 REPUBLICAN

-  195   48.8 INDEPENDENT/NO PARTY

-   12    3.0 DK/REFUSED

Q6. -  WHAT IS YOUR AGE?

-  400  Total

-   10   2.5  18 – 25

-   39   9.8  26 – 40

-  116  29.0  41 – 54

-  128  32.0  55 – 64

-   98  24.5  65 OR OLDER

Q7. -  GENDER:

-  400   Total

-  192   48.0 MALE

-  208   52.0 FEMALE

Q8. -  AREA:

-  400   Total

-  141   35.3 ANCHORAGE

-   52   13.0 MAT-SU

-   50   12.5 KENAI

-   61   15.3 FAIRBANKS

-   51   12.8 SOUTHEAST

-   45   11.3 REST OF STATE

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The Republican Governors Association announced today a website detailing the shady ties between State Treasurer Tim Cahill and his biggest benefactors.

While the site shows 14 questionable connections branching from Cahill, it also highlights a key broken link – the one extending from Cahill and ending at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

“Sadly, Tim Cahill appears able to pay off everyone except the tax man,” said RGA Communications Director Mike Schrimpf. “Tim Cahill is a failed fiscal watchdog – a lot like Deval Patrick, only worse – who can’t be trusted to take the state’s top job.”

The Republican Governors Association launched new television and radio advertisements in Hawai‘i today highlighting Duke Aiona’s plan to reduce the state’s dependence on oil and move it towards a green energy economy. The ads can be reviewed by visiting www.riseandshinehi.com/.

“Duke Aiona knows that Hawai‘i’s future will be shaped by its ability to produce clean, efficient energy,” said RGA Communications Director Mike Schrimpf. “His ideas will transform the state and make it a model for how to grow an economy while protecting the environment.”

More than ninety percent of Hawai‘i’s energy is garnered from fossil fuels, but Duke Aiona is working every day to ensure seventy percent of the state’s energy is generated from clean and renewable sources by 2030.

Aiona’s plan for Hawai‘i’s energy future will also keep $5 billion in the local economy and help create jobs.

“Duke Aiona is the leader committed to bringing a cleaner, more prosperous future to Hawai‘i,” Schrimpf said.

The Boston Globe reported this morning that the state’s presumed top fiscal watchdog, Treasurer Tim Cahill, failed to pay state taxes on interest on campaign funds over the past decade.

While Cahill has campaigned on a message of fiscal discipline, he told WHYN this morning that his failure to pay $15,000 in state income taxes over the past decade was “not a huge mistake.”

Adding insult to injury, Cahill previously criticized Senator John Kerry’s tax troubles, saying, “I don’t think that the state should treat anyone differently…he should be (paying) here in the state.”

“People are tired of politicians like Tim Cahill and Charlie Rangel who raise taxes while refusing to pay their own,” said RGA Communications Director Mike Schrimpf.

The Republican Governors Association launched a new television advertisement in Georgia today comparing the governing style of former Governor Roy Barnes with that of President Barack Obama. The ad can be viewed by visiting www.Roybama.com.

“The leadership styles of Roy Barnes and Barack Obama are strikingly similar,” said RGA Executive Director Nick Ayers. “No wonder Roy wants a redux. He now has a President in Washington who thinks and acts just like him.”

“Both Governor Barnes and President Obama jam policies down voters’ throats, politick without end and blame others when their disastrous ideas fail,” Ayers continued. “Unfortunately for them, all apologies aside, Georgians have had enough of their arrogant leadership.”

The Republican Governors Association today launched a new television ad highlighting Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s hypocrisy on trade issues, China and outsourcing jobs to other countries. The ad can be found online at www.TedFailedOhio.com, along with previous RGA ads.

“Ted Strickland’s hypocrisy would be astounding if it weren’t so predictable,” said Mike Schrimpf, spokesman for the Republican Governors Association. “He is clearly just trying to divert attention from his own record.”

The ad features a kitchen conversation between a father and his daughter as they discuss Strickland’s latest television ad. The two observe that Strickland twice voted for favored nation status for China, and oversaw a state program that spent state stimulus money on a program that hired workers in El Salvador.

“Ted Strickland has failed Ohio over and over,” Schrimpf said. “Now he’s failed the credibility test as well.”

Florida voters have selected Rick Scott as the Republican candidate to face Democrat Alex Sink and independent Bud Chiles in the November election for governor.  Republican Governors Association Chairman Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi, today issued the following statement:

“I called Rick Scott this morning and committed the full resources of the RGA to his election as governor of Florida.  I encourage every Republican in Florida to unite behind the Scott campaign and put on their chin straps because the real battle has just begun. It is going to take all of us pulling together to win.

“As a former national party chairman, I know all too well that primaries are tough and can be costly, but they can also make us stronger.  The voters of Florida took a close look at Rick Scott and believe he is the candidate who can best revive the state’s economy and put Florida back to work.  Rick Scott’s profile as an outsider with years spent in the private sector creating jobs is the type of experience Florida voters are looking for.

“Alex Sink has failed to gain traction with the voters because her record as a banker and politician proves that she cannot be trusted to lead all of Florida.  As she competes for Democratic votes with Bud Chiles, we look forward to Rick Scott making the case that he is the clear choice for governor.”

Alaska voters have selected Democrat Ethan Berkowitz to face Republican Governor Sean Parnell in November’s election for governor of Alaska.  Republican Governors Association spokesman Tim Murtaugh today issued the following statement:

“Governor Parnell has earned the privilege of serving the people of Alaska for four more years.  Voters clearly support Governor Parnell’s work to bring Alaska’s natural gas to markets in Alaska and beyond.  He will continue to stand up to federal intrusions upon Alaska’s ability to develop its own natural resources.  Under Governor Parnell, Alaska’s economy is one of the top job creators in the nation.  We look forward to Governor Parnell’s election to a full term this November.

“Ethan Berkowitz is exactly what Alaska does not need.  He represents the injection of Washington, DC policies into Alaska, meaning higher taxes, runaway spending, and greater interference by government.  Voters will reject his policies in November.”

 Arizona voters have selected Democrat Terry Goddard to face Republican Governor Jan Brewer in November’s election for governor of Arizona. Republican Governors Association spokesman Tim Murtaugh today issued the following statement:

“Through hard work and principled leadership, Governor Brewer has earned a full term as governor of Arizona. After cleaning up a budget mess she inherited from her predecessor, she ably took up Arizona’s fight against unwanted, excessive intrusion from Washington, D.C. and intervened when the federal government failed to enforce its own immigration laws. The voters will reward her with a deserved victory in November.

“Terry Goddard was unwilling to represent Arizona against the federal government when the citizens needed him the most as attorney general. He would not fight to defend the state’s borders and to protect it from the government takeover of health care. Instead of standing with the people of Arizona, he chose to stand with Barack Obama. The voters will reject him in November.”

Voters have selected Republican Rick Scott to face Democrat Alex Sink and independent Bud Chiles in the November election for governor of Florida.  Republican Governors Association spokesman Tim Murtaugh today issued the following statement:

“Intraparty struggles are often difficult to watch, and the contest in Florida has been a good example of that.  That said, the primary is over, Rick Scott is the nominee, the general election has begun, and our party now looks forward.

“Alex Sink has had months to run in a clear field and has not gained any traction, showing that her message has failed to connect with voters.  She represents the policies of Washington, D.C. Democrats: higher taxes, runaway spending and greater intrusion into the everyday lives of Floridians.

“Couple her flagging campaign with the legitimate candidacy of Bud Chiles, and there is a real battle being waged for Democratic votes in Florida.”