At least 160 candidates running as write-ins in Alaska with GOP surge

[LynneSin]

http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2010/Senate/Maps/Oct30-s.html#3

At least 160 candidates running as write-ins in Alaska with GOP surge

n an attempt to foil the write-in campaign of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for senate, 160 supporters of Republican candidate Joe Miller have filed to run as write-in candidates themselves. The idea is to take advantage of the Alaska law saying that a vote counts if the "intent of the voter" can be determined. By creating confusion, Miller supporters hope to make the intent of some write-in votes the subject of court battles after the election. For example, the head of the Alaska Division of Elections has said that she would count a vote for "Lisa M." as a vote for Murkowski. But now someone has filed as "Lisa M. Lackey" so, if this is indeed the legal name of an Alaskan over 30, then a vote for "Lisa M." might be ruled as ambiguous and thus invalid. If the number of write-in votes exceeds the number of votes either Joe Miller (R) or Scott McAdams (D) gets, the election will surely end up in court.

[krawhitham]

1. This helps McAdams since he is polling 2nd to Murkowski

[Zambero]

2. And to think Sarah Palin ignited this GOP family feud

Given the way she "unifies" her party in Alaska, it boggles the mind to contemplate how she might, as president, use her superior skills as a means of "bringing consensus" to the world diplomatic stage.

[golfguru]

3. The Sarah Palin Vs Murkowski feud goes back long way

when Palin defeated Frank Murkowski (Lisa's father)

[Blue_In_AK]

9. It goes back even further than that

to when Frank appointed Lisa instead of Sarah to his Senate seat when he became governor in 2002. Sarah wanted that appointment really bad, and ever since she has been doing everything in her power to take down the Murkowskis.

[golfguru]

10. you are right /nt

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Over the past 10 years or so, she has managed to throw

the Alaska Republican Party into complete chaos. This was a Republican Party that had a virtual lock on our politics for 40 years. Now they're in shambles. Good for us, very bad for them. I would hate to be a Republican in Alaska this year when both of their candidates appear so ethics-challenged.

[TlalocW]

4. I was kind of wondering what the effect of a not-easily spelled last name would have

On Lisa Murkowski's write-in campaign. I was wondering if Lisa Mukowsky or something like that would count.

TlalocW

[vaberella]

5. What are they thinking?! Seriously? What are they thinking?

That was the stupidest idea. There was no guarantee that Murkowski would get the vote and most of all, by doing that they will split the Republican vote. The Dems will vote straight Dem and the Repubs will see new names and go---hmmm..that's not so bad. I'll vote for him.

[tanyev]

6. I wonder how many votes they'll pull from Miller.

:rofl:

[Blue_In_AK]

7. The election has already ended up in court.

We've never had write-in lists provided in the polling stations ever before, but this year the Division of Elections has decided that's okay and that it's also okay for a poll worker to help with spelling Murkowski's name, which formerly clearly would not have been allowed. The Alaska Democratic and Republican parties took it to court, and the Superior Court judge ruled that the lists should not be allowed. The Supreme Court then overturned that ruling. It was after that that the 160 people became registered write-ins. Now a group of teabaggers has filed suit in the U.S. District Court to overrule our Supreme Court.

If Scott McAdams doesn't win this thing outright, we will be in for a long protracted court battle afterwards.