AK-AL: Young trailing in fourth consecutive poll

The news just keeps getting worse for Alaska Rep. Don Young. Fresh off the news that Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell will be forging a primary challenge against Young, Democrat Jake Metcalfe has released an internal poll which shows Young trailing both Metcalfe himself, and a generic nameless "Democratic nominee".

Hays Research for the Jake Metcalfe campaign (3/10/08 - 3/12/08):

Jake Metcalfe (D): 45%
Don Young (R-inc): 37%

Democratic Nominee: 41%
Don Young (R-inc): 34%

Metcalfe's internal polling jibes with the polling of the other Democratic candidates, Ethan Berkowitz and Diane Benson; Young trails all three Democratic candidates. This has been confirmed by independent polling as well.

I think it's pretty safe to say that Young is in deep, deep trouble; these numbers are absolutely abysmal for an 35-year incumbent in a red state.

The saving grace for the Alaska Republican Party is the candidacy of Sean Parnell. If Parnell is able to depose the unpopular Young, as Governor Sarah Palin did in the 2006 primary to former Governor Frank Murkowski, Parnell might be able to coast to election just by being a Republican with a good name, particularly with the backing of the wildly popular Palin.

But if Young stays in the race, this is one of the top Democratic pickup opportunities in the country.