Some Alaska conservatives are questioning whether President Donald Trump's rally in Wasilla last week helped or harmed Republican candidates, KTOO reports. State party officials had urged voters to rank all three conservative candidates for governor, but Trump backed only Bernadette Wilson, dismissed Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor, and called ranked-choice voting rigged.
Conservative radio hosts told KTOO they feared his supporters might now vote for Wilson alone, and one producer called the president's comments counterproductive. Taylor's campaign manager said the remarks could depress turnout among Republican-leaning voters and damage the party's chances in the closely watched US Senate race. About 57% of Alaska's registered voters are not affiliated with a party, and pollster Ivan Moore said Trump's disapproval rating in the state was 21 points higher than his approval. Not all conservatives share the concern, the station adds.
Source: KTOO