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Murkowski Concedes in Alaska
Link from The Hill. Looks like Palin favorite, Mr. "Tea Party" Joe Miller wins the Alaska Senate Republican Primary against Palin rival Lisa Murkowski, giving the Democrat a chance in another race which was supposed to be a safe GOP seat.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) conceded Tuesday night after failing
to gain enough votes on Republican challenger Joe Miller in Tuesday's
count of absentee ballots.
Speaking at her campaign headquarters in Anchorage, Murkowski said that based on the vote count: "I don't see a scenario where the primary will turn out in my favor."
Murkowski's concession completes what is one of the most shocking upsets of the political season to this point and it marks the third primary defeat of a sitting senator in 2010.Miller, who was backed by the Tea Party Express and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), will face Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams (D) in November's general election. The seat is expected to remain in Republican hands.
State elections officials tallied some 15,000 votes Tuesday -- the vast majority of the ballots that were remaining. Given that Murkowski picked up less than 200 votes from that batch, it was unlikely that she would be able to overtake Miller.
Miller began the day with a lead of 1,668 votes and as of 5 p.m. local time in Alaska, he still led by 1,469.
Murkowski wasn't initially expected to face a strong challenge in 2010, but Miller's campaign got an early jolt from Palin and the Tea Party Express.
Even though Tea Party activists have provided the fuel for several primary upsets this election season, the conventional wisdom ahead of Alaska’s contest was that it would mark a rare success for the incumbent this primary season. That did not happen, however.
The Tea Party Express adropped more than $500,000 on TV and radio
ads to aid Miller's campaign, and he had the backing of Palin and of
former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, both rumored presidential
contenders in 2012.
Palin, who endorsed Miller in June,
recorded a last-minute robocall for the campaign that went out to
voters the Monday before the primary. She also posted a fundraising appeal on her Facebook
page that Monday trumpeting Miller's efforts to raise $30,000 for a late TV
buy. She did not campaign with him.
Here are PPP polls which show how Murkowski is a much stronger candidate against McAdams
Sunday Aug. 29
Miller 47, McAdams 39 (Miller + 8)
PPP poll states that... 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.
There is a major chance for an upset... It would be even better if Murkowski ran 3rd party
Well, I guess not...
Libertarian Party rules out Murkowski swap...
Another of the state's minor parties, the Alaskan Independence Party, has flatly ruled out nominating Murkowski as well, leaving a difficult write-in candidacy...
Source
One problem for McAdams is that Alaska's other U.S. senator, Mark Begich, is a Democrat. It is unlikely that Alaska, which has been a traditionally Republican state, would have 2 Dems as senators.
And there may still be a pro-Stevens GOP and independent vote in this contest (even though Stevens is now deceased, and this seat was not Stevens'--Begich has that).
Should be an interesting contest.
Its a red state and a Republican who isn't moderate can win, so why not have a conservative republican.
As I said, if it were New York, I wouldn't mind having a RINO, or if it were Vermont, I would mind having a RINO. We should never get rid of Snowe and Collins from Maine even though they're RINOs.
Secondly, phasing out Social Security and making it a state issue isn't so extreme. I ask you, what is extreme? Privately saving money for retirement or $13 trillion of debt?