A CNN panel examined allegations that Alaska Democrats helped persuade a man named Dan Sullivan to enter the state’s Senate race as a spoiler candidate, potentially drawing votes away from the Republican incumbent who shares his name.
The allegations stem from a new investigation by The New York Times, which reported that attorneys for Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and aides affiliated with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) worked to recruit spoiler candidates in the closely watched race.
According to the report, those efforts led to the sudden emergence of Dan Sullivan’s campaign.
The second Sullivan is a retired teacher from a small fishing village. His name will appear on the ballot alongside Peltola, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Republican Gerald Heikes.
CNN anchor Dana Bash discussed the allegations with fellow panelists on Wednesday’s edition of Inside Politics. She repeatedly emphasized that, if the claims are accurate, the conduct may have been improper but was 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 noted that Republicans faced similar accusations two years ago, when Peltola was running for a House seat.
A CNN panel discussed a new report from The New York Times, claiming Democrats were involved in Dan Sullivan’s campaign in Alaska
Democratic hopeful Mary Peltola’s campaign was accused of involvement in a scheme to recruit a ‘second’ Dan Sullivan in her Senate race
Dana Bash called the allegations ‘untoward’ but ‘not illegal’ during panel discussions
In that contest, Republicans were accused of recruiting a candidate who was in prison in an effort to affect the outcome. Peltola ultimately lost the race.
“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 added.
CNN Senior Political Analyst Mark Preston agreed that spoiler campaigns are neither new nor necessarily unlawful.
He said, however, that the digital age makes it increasingly difficult for campaigns to conceal records showing how such efforts were organized.
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Preston also stressed that it remains unclear how deeply the alleged effort involved Peltola’s campaign, or whether anyone at the Democratic Party’s national level played a role.
Even so, he said the allegations could damage Peltola’s credibility, along with that of Democrats, during the final stretch of the campaign.
CNN White House Correspondent Alayna Treene likewise said the alleged activity was legal and predicted that Republicans would “blow up” the report politically.
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 agreed that if true, the plot is not unprecedented in campaigns
A new investigation from The New York Times uncovered an alleged scheme by the Democratic Party in which they tried to recruit people in Alaska who are named Dan Sullivan
Republican Dan Sullivan is running against another candidate with the same name
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How should we respond when political ¿dirty tricks¿ are legal but clearly aim to deceive voters?
The effort was reportedly known as the Ballot Composition Project. It allegedly involved a “mysterious Midwestern operative” who traveled around Alaska recruiting people over drinks in local pubs.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday evening, Trump said Peltola should withdraw from the race. He also called for her and the Democratic Party to “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 the candidate who shares Sullivan’s name gave Peltola an electoral advantage.
Peltola’s campaign responded Sunday, describing the DOJ’s complaint as “wholly baseless,” according to Reuters.
Both the Peltola campaign and the DSCC have repeatedly denied involvement in the second Dan Sullivan’s campaign or in recruiting any other candidates.
