newsminer.com

Readers, expect the Daily News-Miner to fire up its political blog frequently in the coming weeks and months.

With the primaries a few months away, political junkies, media managers and registered voters are all going to be paying greater attention to the messages from candidates for state and national offices. We'll try our best to stay on top of things.

The atmosphere will be hard to ignore — particularly with the stakes so high. In particular, two of this fall's races involve Alaska's most recognizable politicians, and representatives from both sides of each campaign are knocking — loudly — on doors all over the state. The newspaper's door is one of them.

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich is making another trip to Fairbanks tomorrow. His campaign spokeswoman said the mayor, who is among the Democratic candidates looking to unseat Sen. Ted Stevens, will roll out an "energy plan" at 10 a.m. at the university.

The spokeswoman hinted only that the plan will be long-term in scope — a statewide plan "with national implications" that will include room for renewables, nonrenewables and conservation. She said Begich will make energy one of the cornerstones of his campaign.