Murkowski Will Run As Write-In

[jefferson_dem]

Murkowski Will Run As Write-In
September 17, 2010 4:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Share This

By Reid Wilson
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) will run for re-election as a write-in candidate after losing her bid for renomination, according to sources briefed on Murkowski's decision.

Murkowski's decision will set up a 3-way battle between the incumbent, Miller and Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams (D), potentially turning the race on its head. Private 3-way polling has shown Miller leading, but by a narrow margin.

Murkowski will make the formal announcement tonight in Anchorage. She has been mulling her options after losing to attorney Joe Miller (R) by 1.8% -- or about 2K votes out of 110K cast.

Miller won with the backing of the Tea Party Express and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R). The Tea Party Express spent hundreds of thousands of dollars criticizing Murkowski's legislative accomplishments, and Palin campaigned against her rival in the race's closing days.

She has not formally said she will run, but her campaign is inviting reporters to call in. Murkowski spokespeople were not immediately available for comment Friday afternoon.

Campaign volunteers have been inviting supporters to a "kick-off" event tonight, the Anchorage Daily News reported this afternoon. And in comments to the paper on Thursday, Murkowski certainly sounded like a candidate.

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http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/09/murkowski_will.php

[opihimoimoi]

1. OH OH...The Baggers are ralphing

[roguevalley]

15. she's the biggest entitlement queen in america and the IDEA that

she can't keep daddy's seat, the one he APPOINTED her to is sticking sideways in her craw. murkowskis get even.

[hlthe2b]

2. So will that bode well for McAdams or not?

[WI_DEM]

3. PPP had a poll indicating that she actually hurts the Dem more

Miller leads Democratic nominee Scott McAdams 47-39. McAdams benefits from a
more united party, getting 81% of the Democratic vote to Miller’s 73% of the
Republicans. The candidates split even with independents at 42%, a good number for
Democrats in a year where their candidates are largely getting blown out with that group
of voters.
In a three way race with Murkowski running as a Libertarian Miller would still lead but
with only 38% to 34% for Murkowski and 22% for McAdams. The folks who go for
Murkowski favor McAdams 47-23 in a two way contest so somewhat counterintuitively
she would actually hurt Democratic chances even though she’d de facto make it a race
with 2 Republicans and a Democrat

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_AK_829.pdf

But this is a write-in, who knows.

[jefferson_dem]

4. Early polls said not good for McAdams.

Things may have changed, however. We'll find out.

[ProSense]

8. I actually think this is going to split the GOP vote.

I really can't see how this doesn't benefit McAdams. He has his supporters, and their numbers have likely increased since Murkowski's loss.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

5. This is going to be very interesting. The GOP warned her yesterday not to do it.

At the very least it is going to drain some Republican resources that are desperately needed elsewhere, and amplify tensions within the party. I know there are differences of opinion on whether this helps or hurts McAdams, but I have to believe it's his best shot. Let Miller and Murkowski keep bloodying each other to a pulp.

[jefferson_dem]

7. I think you are correct.

The ripple effects of this will extend far beyond Alaska's borders (perhaps even to Russia ;)).

This will serve as yet another illustration of the bigger narrative --- the schism and extremism / moderate purge within the Repug Party.

[theothersnippywshrub]

22. Your identification of the bigger narrative is spot on.

I expect the purge to last several years and at least two or three election cycles, but the extremists are so fanatical and energized right now that some benefit for Democrats and the country may result this year.

[dragonlady]

6. Spelling may be important

I read somewhere that the lieutenant governor, who is in charge of elections, has said that voters will have to write in the entire name with spelling fairly close to correct before the vote will count.

[Mass]

14. I heard that, but it is hard to believe that many people from Alaska dont know how to spell it

The family has been holding this senator seat for the last 30 years.

[roguevalley]

17. They can write in Lisa M and get away with it as long as they fill

in the dot. if they don't fill in the dot it doesn't count. she really, really, *REALLY* hates palin.

[LisaM]

23. No way!

I don't want to be the Senator from Alaska!

[True_Blue]

24. Please run!

Alaska needs you.

[roguevalley]

26. BWAHAHA! You would get my vote! LOL!

[Aramchek]

9. let the games begin!

[Cognitive_Resonance]

10. Good opportunity to send a contribution to Scott McAdams. He's got a shot. Link:

http://www.scottmcadams.org/

[Cha]

18. Thanks, CR~

[Phx_Dem]

11. Run, Lisa, Run!!

:evilgrin:

[ProSense]

12. The GOP's Lieberman

The GOP's Lieberman

David Kurtz

It's looking more likely that Sen. Lisa Murkowski will announce tonight (9 p.m. ET or thereabouts) that she will wage a write-in campaign to hold on to her Senate seat after losing her party's nomination.

While Charlie Crist's independent campaign in Florida recalls Joe Lieberman's run in 2006, the Murkowski gambit will be much more similar because, like Lieberman was, she's a sitting senator, and Crist is not. So all the pain, awkwardness, and distraction Democrats suffered through in that cycle may soon be visited upon Republicans. You've already got conservatives like Erick Erickson demanding she be stripped of her ranking status on the Energy Committee. The saving grace for the GOP may be that Alaska is as far away from the major media markets as Connecticut was close to them.

[unblock]

13. lieberkowski!

now you know how it feels, republicans!

[golfguru]

16. I can see November from my house //

[craigmatic]

19. Now we can make this race compeditive.

[HughMoran]

20. Good news

:thumbsup:

[FirstTimeVoterAt37]

21. Can Alaskans spell "Murkowski"?

(Sincerest apologies to Alaskans, but that was an irresistable place to take that.)

[classysassy]

25. Lisa is suffering from that old DC malady

Money and power,she refuse to give it up without a fight.