Click Here To See RealVideo™ Of Knowles' "Another Story" Click Here To See RealVideo™ Of Knowles' "Outsourcing" Click Here To See RealVideo™ Of Knowles' "Oil and Gas Jobs" Click Here To See RealVideo™ Of Murkowski's "Makes Me Tick" Click Here To See RealVideo™ Of Murkowski's "Tireless" Click Here To Hear RealAudio™ Of Murkowski's "Report" More On This Race Previous Ads Latest Polls Tip Sheet

By Gwen Glazer, NationalJournal.com
© National Journal Group Inc.
Friday, Sept. 10, 2004

New ads from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) and former Gov. Tony Knowles (D) spotlight tensions between the Alaska Senate candidates in an increasingly tight race.

In a 60-second radio spot released Wednesday, Murkowski slams Knowles for endorsing a report from the Pew Oceans Commission about the state's fishing industry. "Report" charges that Knowles initially endorsed the report but now "flip-flops," and that the proposal creates bureaucracy, taxes fishermen, encourages lawsuits and "calls on the federal government to close vast ocean areas." The Anchorage Daily News reported that Murkowski's ad comes "right on top of" ads last week from an Anchorage business group that also knocked Knowles for backing the report. The ad will run for a week.

Two new 30-second TV ads, which went up statewide on Aug. 25, promote the senator's record. "Makes Me Tick" highlights her promise to create new jobs in the state; "Tireless" features an appearance by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., describing her commitment to veterans. McCarthy Marcus Hennings produces Murkowski's ads.

Knowles' newest 30-second ad focuses on job creation. In "Oil and Gas Jobs," which began Wednesday, Knowles tells viewers "the gas line will put America and Alaska at work, and those are jobs you can't outsource." Outsourcing was also the theme of an earlier spot, in which Knowles attacks Murkowski for taking "over $100,000 from companies that export jobs" and giving "tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas." Knowles also launched another bio spot, "Another Story," outlining his history and promising that he will stand "up to his own party to protect Alaska jobs, putting Alaska first."

"Outsourcing" and "Another Story" debuted statewide the last week in August. Squier Knapp Dunn produced all the spots.

The Cook Political Report rated this race a toss-up.

Ad Spotlight has the latest commercials from the 2004 campaigns and issue/advocacy groups, as well as searchable archives dating back to 1997.

Script of Murkowski's "Report" (Radio)

ANNOUNCER: Ever heard of the Pew Report? It recommends much of Alaska’s fishing industry be subject to five new federal bureaucracies, allows more lawsuits from environmentalists, urges new federal taxes on our fishermen -- and calls on the federal government to close vast ocean areas to all activity, even recreational uses.

And Tony Knowles endorsed it. But now that he’s running for office, Knowles flip-flops, saying:

TONY KNOWLES: I think the decision as to what areas need to be protected is a local decision.

ANNOUNCER: So as a candidate, Tony claims he favors local decision-making, but Tony signed a report recommending more federal control of Alaska’s fisheries. Tony’s report was funded by some of the same people who oppose drilling on the North Slope, want to lock up the Tongass -- and would hurt our fishing industry. More bureaucracy and less local control. Who was Tony Knowles listening to? Not Alaska’s fishermen. Tony Knowles: bad for Alaska’s jobs and bad for our fishermen.

LISA MURKOWSKI: This is Lisa Murkowski, and I approve this message.

ANNOUNCER: Paid for by Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate.

Script of Murkowski's "Makes Me Tick" (TV)

(On screen: LisaMurkowski.com)

LISA MURKOWSKI [v/o]: In order for us to be treated fairly, we've got to be standing up and fighting every day for Alaska. I want to make sure that my children, your children, our grandchildren, want to come back to Alaska, and that means fighting for the good jobs that will keep them home to stay. And you need to know how proud I am to serve you. I love Alaska. It makes me tick.

LISA MURKOWSKI [to camera]: I'm Lisa Murkowski, and I...

LISA MURKOWSKI WITH CHILDREN ON MERRY-GO-ROUND: ... approve this message!

(On screen: Approved By Lisa Murkowski And Paid For By Lisa Murkowski For U.S. Senate)

Script of Murkowski's "Tireless" (TV)

ANNOUNCER: Lisa Murkowski: a tireless advocate for veterans, protecting their health care and pioneer homes, and supporting our troops to make America safer.

(On screen: Senator John McCain)

JOHN McCAIN [to camera]: I've had the privilege of working with Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the Senate. Lisa is working hard for Alaskans and especially Alaska's veterans. She's helped win the largest increase in veterans' funding ever.

(On screen: $2.5 Billion More For Veterans' Health Care)

Take it from me: Alaska's veterans couldn't ask for a stronger advocate in the Senate than Lisa Murkowski.

LISA MURKOWSKI [v/o]: I'm Lisa Murkowski, and I approve this message.

(On screen: Approved By Lisa Murkowski And Paid For By Lisa Murkowski For U.S. Senate)

Script of Knowles' "Oil and Gas Jobs" (TV)

(On screen: www.TonyKnowles.com)

TONY KNOWLES: Good jobs and economic development is the most important thing for Alaska and Alaska families. That's what I worked for as governor, and that's what I'll fight for as senator -- to break the partisanship and gridlock in Washington so we can get the gas line started.

(On screen: Knowles: Open ANWR; Build the Gas Pipeline; Endorsed by Alaska AFL-CIO)

And the gas line will put America and Alaska at work, and those are jobs you can't outsource.

ANNOUNCER: Tony Knowles: a governor who created jobs here in Alaska. A senator who'll put Alaska first.

(On screen: Roughneck; Small Businessman; 30,000 Jobs Created)

TONY KNOWLES [v/o]: I'm Tony Knowles, and I approve this jobs message for Alaskans.

(On screen: Approved By Tony Knowles And Paid For By Tony Knowles For Senate)

Script of Knowles' "Outsourcing" (TV)

TONY KNOWLES [to camera]: I'm Tony Knowles, and I approve this message.

ANNOUNCER: Lisa Murkowski says she wants to be judged on what she's done, not how she got her job. We agree. In less than two years, she's given tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, voted for tax breaks for government contractors shipping jobs overseas, but she voted against tax cuts for companies creating jobs in America.

(On screen: Source: S. Con. Res. 95, #41, 3/11/04)

Murkowski's taken over $100,000 from companies that export jobs.

(On screen: Source: www.cep.org; Lou Dobbs: List of Companies Exporting Jobs, www.cnn.com)

Lisa Murkowski: using your Senate seat to put special interests ahead of Alaska jobs.

(On screen: Approved By Tony Knowles And Paid For By Tony Knowles For Senate)

Script of Knowles' "Another Story" (TV)

ANNOUNCER: Vietnam veteran. Roughneck. Small-business man. Family man. Governor. Independent, effective leader. Tony Knowles.

(On screen: www.TonyKnowles.com)

In Washington, he'll work to create jobs, reach across party lines to promote oil and gas development, make prescription drugs and health care more affordable -- even standing up to his own party to protect Alaska jobs, putting Alaska first. Tony Knowles.

TONY KNOWLES [to camera]: I'm Tony Knowles, and I approved this message to Alaskans.

(On screen: Approved By Tony Knowles And Paid For By Tony Knowles For U.S. Senate)

To access the ad, you will need a current version of RealPlayer™, which is available for free from the Progressive Networks Web site.