A CNN panel has weighed allegations that Alaska Democrats encouraged a man named Dan Sullivan to enter the state’s Senate race as a spoiler candidate, potentially drawing votes away from Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan, who shares his name.
An investigation by The New York Times alleged that attorneys for Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and staff members at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) worked to recruit spoiler candidates in the closely contested race.
The effort reportedly led to the unexpected emergence of Dan Sullivan’s campaign.
Sullivan, a retired teacher from a small fishing village, is set to appear on the ballot alongside Peltola, Republican Dan Sullivan and Republican Gerald Heikes.
CNN anchor Dana Bash discussed the report with the panel on Wednesday’s edition of Inside Politics, repeatedly emphasizing that Democrats’ alleged actions, if accurate, would be politically questionable but not illegal.
“I use the term dirty tricks intentionally because it’s — it’s not illegal. This is something that — is untoward,” Bash said.
“It is something that Democrats have tried to do in races where they think it could be to their advantage to run candidates that could siphon votes away from Republicans, and Republicans do the same.”
Bash pointed to a similar tactic Republicans were accused of using two years earlier, when Peltola was running for a seat in the House of Representatives.
A CNN panel examined a The New York Times report alleging Democratic involvement in Dan Sullivan’s Alaska campaign
Mary Peltola’s campaign was accused of helping recruit a “second” Dan Sullivan for the Senate race
Dana Bash described the allegations as “untoward” but said they were not illegal
In that contest, Republicans were accused of recruiting a candidate who was in prison in an effort to affect the outcome, and Peltola ultimately lost.
“These are dirty tricks. They are legal, dirty tricks. But again, at a time when you have a President and his — supporters, particularly those with very big platforms, trying to undermine the election, and Alaska is a potentially key and even pivotal Senate seat that could determine the outcome of the control of Senate, it’s a big deal,” Bash continued.
CNN Senior Political Analyst Mark Preston agreed that spoiler strategies are neither new nor illegal in American elections.
He said, however, that the digital era makes it increasingly difficult for campaigns to conceal a paper trail connected to such efforts.
Preston also stressed that it remains uncertain how deeply anyone at the Democratic Party’s national level may have been involved, if they were involved at all.
He added that, if the allegations are substantiated, they could damage Peltola’s credibility, as well as that of the Democratic Party, during the final phase of the campaign.
CNN White House Correspondent Alayna Treene likewise noted that the alleged operation was legal and predicted Republicans were “going to blow up” the report.
The New York Times reported that a Peltola campaign staffer was directed to identify as many people named Dan Sullivan as possible.
CNN Senior Political Analyst Mark Preston said the alleged strategy would not be unprecedented in political campaigns
A The New York Times investigation detailed an alleged Democratic effort to recruit Alaskans named Dan Sullivan
Republican Dan Sullivan is facing another candidate who has the same name
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How should voters respond when political “dirty tricks” are legal but appear designed to mislead them?
The effort was reportedly known as the Ballot Composition Project and involved a “mysterious Midwestern operative” who traveled around Alaska, recruiting potential candidates while socializing with them in pubs.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday evening, Trump said Peltola should withdraw from the race. The president also said she and the Democratic Party “should be prosecuted.”
“To me that’s voter fraud at the highest level,” he said.
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit last week alleging that a candidate who shared Sullivan’s name gave Peltola an electoral advantage.
Peltola’s campaign responded Sunday, describing the DOJ’s complaint as “wholly baseless,” Reuters reported.
Both the Peltola campaign and the DSCC have repeatedly denied participating in the “second” Sullivan’s campaign or recruiting any other candidates.
