State legislators have always been more than happy to fill their pockets with money from oil industry, and then do their bidding. Oil has always corrupted politics up here; they pretty much own both partys. Has led to public holding their noses concerning the corruption. Alaskan's were glad to see Palin clean it up and send quite a few of our own Repubs off to the big house.
Oil has been a double edged sword here. It funds government but also permits many social programs and no state income or sales taxes, a good thing actually.
The oil industry has a sweetheart deal here in Ak and they know it all too well. Most Alaskans would have preferred future gas development to be state controlled for Ak's useage & benefit. Palin preached for private development; we shall see who proves up?
The election in NJ was won in two counties, Monmouth and Ocean counties. These two counties gave Christie a lead of more than 135,000 votes, and Christie won statewide by about 100,000 total.
A political operative should study these two counties because this is the recipe to defeat the Dems.