You overlook the fact that Statewide Democrats have since Knowles portrayed themselves as conservative business people and run as far from the positions of the National party as they can.   Then, when and if elected, they govern as far left as the electorate will let them.   In his failed re-election bid Mark Begich actually had the gall to tout himself as a "Rockefeller Republican."   There aren't more than a handful of districts in the State where a Democrat could get elected on the platform of the National party.