DESPERATE TO HOLD ALASKA'S SOLE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, GOP LT. GOVERNOR CHALLENGING DON YOUNG, EVEN BEFORE HE'S INDICTED!

Sean Parnell, the far right Republican Lt. Governor of Alaska, isn't waiting for the Feds to indict Don Young (R-AK) on myriad corruption charges. Parnell "stunned everyone at the Republican state convention Friday, announcing he will challenge 18-term incumbent Don Young for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House."

"For too long, we have expected too little from our elected officials," Parnell said. "It is time for change."

Young, the subject of a federal investigation that includes his campaign finance practices, last month refused to answer questions about why his campaign has spent $845,035 on legal fees. Young said only the media, and not his constituents, had asked about the fees.

Young refused to answer again when a reporter identified himself as a constituent, but someone who had not voted for Young. Parnell seized on that detail in his announcement.

"The notion that an elected official gets to pick who his constituents are based on whether they voted for him, that is wrong," Parnell said.

Young had briefly left the room and returned to find he had just picked up a formidable primary opponent. He followed Parnell to the dais and delivered a typically feisty reply.

"Sean, congratulations," Young said. "I beat your dad and I'm going to beat you."

There is also a Republican state Rep., Gabrielle LeDoux, challenging Young in the primary. The progressive Democrat running is Diane Benson and there are a couple of better-than-Young Insider types, Ethan Berkowitz (the DLC candidate who is being pushed by the DCCC as well) and Jake Metcalfe. So basically, it's all a bunch of lawyers plus Diane, the grassroots activist.

Despite the bravado, the NY Times reported that Young was "taken aback," and reports that the only high ranking Republican in the state not involved with corruption charges, Gov. Sarah Palin, is backing Parnell. Parnell says he decided to run "because he was concerned about the state’s reputation on Capitol Hill... Other members of Congress are running away from Alaska’s congressman because they don’t want our Alaska congressman’s excess hanging ’round their necks. We have to work on mending wounds in Alaska and America.”