The ongoing battle for who won the Republican primary in the Alaska Senate race will come down to the absentee ballots, but in an exclusive interview with The Daily Beast, a source within the Murkowski campaign says they know of one possible legal option to pursue a third-party run. If Murkowski is not victorious when the absentee ballots are counted and decides to wage an Independent party bid, they might consider using this option, which the source wouldn't describe, but did confirm they were seriously looking at.
"We are going to take a look at them and see whether the option is there or not, but it's a decision she (Murkowski) has to make," the Murkowski camp source said. "There is an option I know of."
In a general election, Murkowski would be hard to beat. The camp said it would also be a message to their supporters who didn't bother going to the polls Tuesday.
"If she were to make that decision she would definitely be a strong candidate. She has a substantial amount of money left, and one would have to wonder whether or not last night's results are a wake-up call to less-motivated, moderate, middle-of-the-road voters who went home after work yesterday in the sunshine and thought it's not a big deal, she would win."
If Murkowski were to choose to run as an independent, probably as an AIP candidate like Wally Hickel, she would pretty much guarantee that Joe Miller would not win the election, and if Democrats turned out in large enough numbers it is somewhat doubtful she could beat Scott McAdams. Of course considering my recent track record I would certainly not want to make any definitive predictions as to what the outcome of a three way race might be.
I met Scott McAdams just about two hours ago, and listened to his first press conference as a Democratic Senate candidate. I found him to be intelligent, quick witted, and pretty well informed on the issues. I still have some reservations, but he is certainly not an Alvin Greene type. He is the real deal and he has a very real resume of accomplishments and experience to run on.
By the way the rumor that the Democratic party is going to ask Scott McAdams to step aside and let ex-Governor Tony Knowles take his place, is just that, a rumor. From what I learned today Tony is not interested and the rumor was started by somebody OUTSIDE of Alaska. And by the way that was, sadly, the very first question posed to Mayor McAdams during his first ever press conference as a senatorial candidate. Not exactly a positive first note to start off what will likely be a very contentious campaign now is it?
P.S. by the way despite how the national media might frame this upset, literally every single person I have talked to here in Alaska have said they don't believe that Sarah Palin had ANYTHING to do with Miller's victory. The lion's share of the credit seems to be going to the large Evangelical turnout in response to Ballot Measure 2.
Wow. When they lose it is Palin's fault, when they win it is some other factor.
ReplyDeleteLook, folks, she kicked your ass yesterday. Deal with it.
I wouldn't go that far @4:42pm. There were a lot of cross over voters that didn't want Murkowski's money in the general election. She has such a war chest at her disposal, and could draw more if she wanted. I'd not rule a 3rd party (Ind) run if she does ultimately lose. Then what would Ms Palin's favorite carpetbagger do? Lose of course!
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly how we got stuck with Lieberman in CT. He ran as independent after he lost the primary to a new Democratic candidate. He played the odds and won.
ReplyDeleteMurkowski will run as a 3rd party candidate.
ReplyDeleteShe hates Palin that much.
God bless you Lisa.
Lisa Murk can't run as an Ind or as a 3rd party, Alaska has a sore loser law.
ReplyDeleteShe could run as a write-in but there is very little chance that works.
She needs 63% of the absentees. No way.
Filing deadline for Indy or 3rd party was 5 pm yesterday.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't your header read "Is Lisa Murkowski considering a run... ?"
ReplyDeleteHave to look out for creeping Palinspeak!
Today, four of my workmates said they regret not using the independent ballot while voting yesterday. Shock was the only word used to describe how a whack job like MIller could end up in front of that race. EVERYONE saw that crazy parade with the bloated middle age men wearing their assault rifles and thought "No way was he a threat to Murkowski." I am so embarrassed. Most Alaskans are really not this nuts Folks!
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when people assume the rational event will prevail: the fringy weirdos get a foot in the door.
ReplyDeleteHow can Murkowski, who very well might lose this run, does lose and then turn around and run again as an Independent int he general election? It doesn't sound legal or ethically correct to do. I'm sure the competition will look into the legality of it should it occur. She sounds like a spoiled brat to me.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Rick Rydell on his morning radio show (even though he lives outside Alaska now) is the one who said that someone in the Democratic party told him they might take Scott McAdams off the ballot and put up Tony Knowles. That too didn't sound legal. Politics is one manipulative game I've always known that, but either one of these two things would absolutely take the cake.
Haven't heard much from camp Palin over this. Curious.
ReplyDeleteShe has been pretty quite about the "9-11 Mosque". Light the match & run!!!!
OR
I wonder if she was scolded by her Saudi Prince.
The fact may be that $P had nothing to do with it and Prop 2 might have in fact been it, but perception is reality, plus the media capital is NYC, not Anchorage, so the spin is she was successful in beating her former rival's daughter. And run as the AIP candidate? AK will have sooo much power and respect in Washington DC now that people know that part of the AIP platform is to secede from the nation that has been subsidizing AK with American tax dollars.
ReplyDelete@6:15 I heard peolpe was in shock when Palin won the governor race, time to follow the WGE more closely, yes, this is her win, if it happens, but just getting this close is victory for Palin who knows how to take the back door. She took a break from the 48s and hopped about AK under the guise of filming a reality show, all the while she was promoting Joe Miller. Once again, Sarah surprised Alaskans with a wild ride and an overnight delivery.
ReplyDeleteHow did Wally do it? Have the rules changed since then? Who was the Democrat in that race? bt
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans always fall back to guns, gays and religion to get their candidate in. They can't win on the issues but damn they are good at being bigots
ReplyDeleteLISA CANNOT RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT, SHE DID NOT FILE IN TIME. Sorry for the caps but I've been typing this all day and people need to read the facts.
ReplyDeletehttp://community.adn.com/adn/node/152897#ixzz0xgK6QVQ5
"Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai told me it's too late for Murkowski to file to have her name appear on the ballot as an independent, so that would need to be a write-in effort. There is a Libertarian candidate in the race, Frederick Haase, who could choose to step down. The Libertarian Party could then select a replacement for him on the ballot.
There is no other third party candidate in the U.S. Senate race, so Libertarian would be the only option for Murkowski to join a new party for a run."
Palin is not a kingmaker, just an idiot. She has nothing, or very little to do with this outcome.
ReplyDelete1) Lots of progressives signed up as Non Partisan or Undeclared voted for Miller on the R ticket to send her a message or hope the Dem could beat a whack nut like Miller.
2) Voter turnout was pitiful - in the high 20 percent. Many Rs didn't bother to vote thinking Lisa was a shoe-in.
3) Money came in like crazy from the Tea Whack Express at the last and they saturated the media, and did robocalls and polls til they were blue it the face. This money came in from outside AK.
4) The national press are idiots - as usual they didn't do their homework and no one ever understands Alaska unless they do, and also talk to lots of Alaskans. Many folks don't even know how our primary works.
5) The press jumped on the Palin word to secure their ratings - she's a noting in this scenario, a big fat NOTHING.
6) The national press is dead wrong, as usual, when it comes to anything Alaskan.
Tony was the Democrat.
ReplyDeleteThe Right-To-Lifers are the one's who turned out for Prop 2 and are also the one's who love Sarah Palin so much.
My understanding from reading over at Mudflats, is that she cannot run as an Independent; the filing deadline has passed. There is a Libertarian on the ballot who could drop out and allow the Lib brass to substitute Lisa in his place. Sounds like that would be unlikely.
ReplyDeleteI bet the Libertarians would love to have a high profile person like Lisa run on their ticket. And the way the wing nuts are ruining the R Party's image, I also bet that Lisa would love to change parties too!
ReplyDeleteGood lesson for everyone. NEVER be complacent, thinking others are going out to vote, for the obvious choice. When everyone thinks that way, look what happens? So, now the question is, do we want Sean Parnell, Sarah's administration, to be heading things in Alaska?
ReplyDeleteFor those fundies that turned out to vote that love Sarah so much - they forget about the way she denied adding a pro-life bill to her Special Session just to stick it to her fat cancerous Wasilla nemisis and House Leader Lyda Green (the insults were implied in Sarah's giggling participation in a radio show.)
ReplyDeleteThat's how much Sarah loves the unborn baby grizzlies.
What is wrong with the Alaskan voters? This Bagger is against social security, medicare, medicaid, unemployment compensation and anything American. He is for the Bush tax cuts and everything Tea Baggery. How in the world did anyone vote for him and his policies?
ReplyDeleteIf Joe Miller wins the primary, would Lisa Murkowski by self-sacrificing enough to step aside so as not to split the Conservative vote and guarantee a win for Democrat Scott McAdams?
ReplyDelete