Many congressional candidates in tight races, from Alaska to New York, are vowing to pursue earmarks despite the intensifying movement against pet projects.

In a survey of challengers for the most competitive House and Senate races, 14 candidates out of 19 said they would request earmarks if elected to Congress. They did promise, however, to disclose all of their requests to the public.

The question of whether to earmark is politically tricky for congressional candidates because securing earmarks attracts favorable press coverage back home. But critics have charged that the practice of earmarking is Washington at its worst and represents a potential source of corruption.

White House hopefuls Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) are backing an earmark moratorium, as are House Republican leaders. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is also mulling the implementation of an earmark moratorium.

But not everyone is echoing their calls.

“I am going to fight just as hard for those earmarks, but they’re going to be transparent to the public as to who has asked for them and who is getting them,” said Mark Begich, the Democratic mayor for Anchorage, Alaska, who jumped in the race last week to challenge Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), an earmark proponent who is reportedly under federal investigation.

Stevens has promised to disclose his requests this year as well.

Begich noted the successes of earmarks, particularly a project he worked on with another Alaskan earmark backer, Rep. Don Young (R). Begich and Young joined forces to secure $10 million to help clear a traffic-congested Anchorage intersection by widening lanes and providing more safety measures. The mayor expects to break ground on the project this spring.

“It wasn’t a lobbyist asking for that. It was a community asking for that,” said Begich.

Several challengers described the system of obtaining earmarks as being broken beyond repair. Some candidates, including Kansas state Sen. Nick Jordan (R) and former Rep. Mike Sodrel (R-Ind.), support the earmark moratorium championed by House Republican leaders.

Others want to go further.

“The taxpayers can’t afford [earmarks],” said Jim Ogonowski, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel running against Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). “I personally think this is why we have a government that is way too big, way too corrupt, and too controlled by special interests.”

Ogonowski pledged not to request earmarks and called Kerry “one of the biggest spenders in the Senate.” He cited Kerry’s votes for earmarks, such as funding for a museum celebrating the Woodstock Music Festival.

David Wade, a Kerry spokesman, said the senator is proud of projects he helped fund through earmarks.

“The Republican campaigns will be a bridge to nowhere if they’re running to cut off money for police, kids and firefighters,” said Wade.

David Keating, executive director of the Club for Growth, said candidates should oppose earmarks because that appeals to constituents.

“It is a natural issue. You can say you can fight corruption and you can fight waste at the same time,” Keating said. “And until the problem is fixed, they shouldn’t be earmarking. That should be the bare minimum.” The Club for Growth endorses incumbents and congressional candidates based partly on their positions on earmarks.