Well Played

Have you heard the feud in the Senate between Senators Begich (D-AK) and McKiskill (D-MO)?

The language has gotten quite heated:

Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK), one of the more vulnerable Democrats in this fall's midterm elections, was unusually harsh last week when he criticized his fellow Democrat, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), for scrutinizing the federal contracts of Alaska Native Corporations despite his "repeated attempts to reason with her."

It was an uncharacteristically abrasive tone for Begich to strike with another Democrat. But in the context of his re-election race, it makes more sense. His campaign's message has focused on Alaskan issues -- like energy and fishing policy -- and battling another Democrat is never a bad look for a Democrat in a otherwise red state.

Now a follow-up letter sent by Begich on Tuesday and the accompanying statement from McCaskill suggests that McCaskill, while legitimately pursuing an issue that she's studied for six years, is also content to let Begich score a few political points at home.

Both sides win: McCaskill assumes the oversight role that the former state auditor relishes, and Begich gets to publicly fight on behalf of a popular program back home.

………

McCaskill's office had previously declined to respond to Begich's public rebuke. But asked by TPM about the letter, McCaskill called her colleague a "problem" in a prepared statement. Though, to Alaska's voters, he might not sound like much of a problem at all.

“I’ve fought for six years to change the law in regard to Alaska Native Corporations," she said in the statement. "There has consistently been one problem—Mark Begich. He single-handedly protects Alaska and the ANCs.”

McKaskill and Begich both win.

Begich gets points at home for fighting his own party for a program that benefits Alaskans, and McKaskill gets to present a facade of fiscal probity.

I believe that this called "Political Kabuki".