The Associated Press

Sun, May 11, 2008 (12:22 a.m.)

A Democratic congressional candidate abruptly dropped out of the race Wednesday and said a former campaign worker was linked to an Internet smear aimed at a rival.

Jake Metcalfe said he had known nothing about a scheme to redirect Internet users searching for fellow Democrat Ethan Berkowitz to bogus sites intended to harm Berkowitz's candidacy. But he added, "It appears that a former campaign worker was involved in these acts, and I condemn them."

Metcalfe, former chairman of the Democratic Party in Alaska, said he takes responsibility and apologized to Berkowitz on Wednesday.

The disputed Web sites contained variations of Berkowitz's name but were not associated with the candidate's campaign. When users clicked on the Web sites, they were directed to pages that attempted to portray Berkowitz as a privileged California liberal or to gay cultural sites in San Francisco.

"I made a mistake by not taking these allegations more seriously from the beginning," Metcalfe said.

Berkowitz said Wednesday it is time to move past the Web site flap. Married with two children, he has roots in San Francisco but has lived since 1990 in Alaska, where he has served as a prosecutor and legislator.

"I think it's time to close a chapter and go back to what we should have been doing all along, which is talking about the direction the state is taking," Berkowitz said.

Metcalfe's former campaign manager, Dana Krawchuk, claimed that his political adviser Bill Scannell talked about such a scheme last year in front of her and Metcalfe.

Scannell has denied establishing the fake Web sites but he resigned last week, saying the allegations were hurting Metcalfe.

Metcalfe said Wednesday he had not determined that Scannell was behind the ruse.

"I've talked to Bill. Bill denies it it's him, but the evidence shows he may have had something to do with it," Metcalfe said.

Metcalfe said he regretted that Alaskans were distracted from the task of ousting Rep. Don Young, a Republican seeking his 19th term while federal investigators scrutinize his campaign finance practices.

"It's because we need to keep our eyes on the prize and it is because I care so deeply about the future of our state that I have decided to step aside," he said.

Metcalfe said would not immediately endorse Berkowitz or the other Democrat in the race, Diane Benson, who faced Young in the 2006 general election and won 40 percent of the vote.

Metcalfe's wife, Moira, and other family members were at his side for the announcement. Metcalfe said they are expecting a daughter in a few months and that he looks forward to spending time with the new baby and two sons.