Supporters of Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola in Juneau, Alaska, told CBS News they still support her bid.
Peltola is facing intense criticism over a New York Times report that operatives aligned with her campaign were involved in the Dan Sullivan recruitment effort. Peltola has denied any involvement or knowledge of the scheme.
Democrat Bob Coghill said he thinks the controversy could hurt Peltola with late deciders.
“I do think it will hurt her chances,” Coghill said. “I think there are people that will see this as something just a little too clever, a little too untoward, and it’s going to hurt some votes of the people who — particularly the last-minute voters.”
Carter Bancroft, an independent voter heading to vote early for Peltola, said he disliked the political gamesmanship, but questioned the push to prosecute Peltola.
“Seems like a mess,” Bancroft said. “Seems to me possible, probable, that he is in this race to confuse things.”
He added: “I don’t like the shenanigans that go on on both sides, gerrymandering in a variety of ways, that it seems like politicians stump more on confusing people, in many ways, than they do on actual issues. I feel like that’s possible here, and I don’t like that. On the other hand, it doesn’t seem — it may be tasteless if that’s true, but it’s not criminal.”
Democrat Leah Haskell-Cummins called the allegations against Peltola “ridiculous” and “fearmongering.” She said the ballot clearly distinguished between the two Dan Sullivans, making voter confusion unlikely.
