Murkowski Within One Point of Tea Party Candidate Joe Miller

Even hardened politicos in Alaska are stunned at the tenacity being shown by Lisa Murkowski.  Having been dealt a painful primary election defeat at the hands of a relative unknown and Tea Party upstart Joe Miller, Murkowski quickly shifted gears and has managed to put together a cohesive and effective write-in campaign.  The latest Rasmussen poll of likely Alaskan voters shows Murkowski trailing Miller by just a single point, thus making the race a virtual tie.

Sarah Palin campaigned repeatedly for Miller, who has welcomed her support and ability to enhance his own campaign fund raising efforts.  The relationship between Miller and Palin may not be playing well with many Alaska voters though.  Overall, Alaskan voters have become far less supportive of their former governor since she quit the governorship with well over a year left on her term.  Palin’s support was essential in helping assure Miller gain the majority of the conservative base in Alaska during the primary campaign, but now that he faces a general election, moderate Republicans are showing uncertainty in supporting his campaign – quite possibly a backlash effect due to his close affiliation with the strongly divisive Sarah Palin.  Said longtime Alaska Democratic Party activist Nate Chambers, “There is no doubt that having Sarah Palin campaign so openly for him is hurting Joe Miller and helping Lisa Murkowski.  Alaska is not a far right state like some people think.  It really is middle of the road, and let’s be honest – there is nothing middle of the road about either Sarah Palin or Joe Miller.  Right now I would give Lisa Murkowski a 50/50 shot of pulling this off.  She really does seem to have the momentum heading into the home stretch.  She’s a tough lady. I sure wouldn’t be counting her out.”

Still, the Miller campaign remains optimistic that November election voters will choose him to be Alaska’s newest Senator.