Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), stunned by a "loss to a ‘Tea Party’-backed insurgent in last month’s Republican primary, announced on Friday that she is mounting a write-in campaign to keep her seat," Reuters reports.
"Today my friends, my campaign for Alaska’s future begins," she told a crowd of supporters packing a lobby in Anchorage’s largest convention center. "I will be a candidate in November for the United States Senate seat that I hold now."
Senator Murkowski will have to give up her leadership positions, as Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) confirmed in a press release statement last night:
“Senate Republicans informed Lisa Murkowski that we will respect the will of the voters in Alaska and support the Republican nominee, Joe Miller. I informed her that by choosing to run a campaign against the Republican nominee, she no longer has my support for serving in any leadership roles, and I have accepted her letter of resignation from Senate leadership. Lisa has served her state and our party with distinction, but Republicans acknowledge the decision Alaskans made and join them in support of the Republican nominee, Joe Miller—the next Senator for Alaska.”
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-TX) offered this response:
“Republican primary voters spoke when they nominated Joe Miller in Alaska, and I am deeply disappointed in Senator Lisa Murkowski’s decision to ignore that clear message and wage a write-in candidacy. The NRSC stands firmly behind Joe Miller’s nomination, and we will ensure that he has all of the resources that he needs in order to win this November.”
As for the Democrats, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Deirdre Murphy offered this response:
“Lisa Murkowski’s decision to mount a write-in campaign is just the latest example of the Republican Party cannibalizing itself. From the tip of Florida, to the beaches in Delaware, all the way to the islands off Alaska, the Republican Party heads into November with deep and serious divisions.
“Alaska voters now have three options in November: a Washington insider who supports the failed economic policies of the past, an extremist who wants to end Social Security and Medicare, and a small-town mayor who would put Alaskan families first.”
Lastly, Democratic candidate and Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams:
“For me this race was never about my opponent. It was about Alaska’s future and the vision for building Alaska’s economy, supporting our seniors, and creating jobs for Alaska families.”
“Washington is not working for Alaska families. The partisan bickering, political grandstanding, and special interest bailouts don’t get results for Alaska. The negative campaign Alaskans endured over the last several months is just more of the same.”
(credit image – daylife/associated press)
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