Last week, McAdams and Miller faced off at a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Just lately, it seems like Chamber of Commerce events are anything but friendly towards Dems but McAdams passed this test with flying colors.
He even managed to turn the Bridge to Nowhere into a positive frame:
McAdams said that arguing against projects - like the much maligned and lampooned "Bridge to Nowhere" - was arguing against the future of Alaska.
"There was a time in this country when the Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad to nowhere, there was a time in this country when the Hoover Dam was a dam for no one," he said.
McAdams seems more than comfortable before a microphone. He's also comfortable with himself and his views and doesn't try to speak in any Republican frame of reference. He calls the shots when he's speaking and he calls a spade a spade. We need him, and more like him, serving in our US Senate today.
When asked about moving the state capitol from Juneau, Miller gives a wonky answer. McAdams pulls no punches:
"Let me be clear: over my dead body," he said.
He admits to being counterculture and makes it a positive statement. He even manages to make off-shore drilling sound palatable by claiming the US safety record is much better than that in other nations. He's still not convinced that we can wean ourselves off oil. But, not many Alaskans are ready to hear that either.
McAdams really understands why government, especially the federal government, is so important to Alaskans:
The first order of business needs to be to connect Southeast Alaska through earmarks," he said. "The private sector's not going to come here and do this. Affordable electricity, reliable transportation and the educated populace is the backbone of any economy, and it requires federal support."
When it comes to framing, McAdams is a natural. He just needs more press and needs more contact with more people. Help us spread the word.
I have a Facebook page for the military vote but others are welcome to join- Military Families for McAdams. We're at 15 members and growing.
More importantly, support should be offered by donating to McAdam's ActBlue page.
Or visit his website and offer to volunteer.