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After painstaking two-weeks of waiting, Lisa Murkowski is finally claiming her prize. Today, the Republican incumbent apparently won the race for Alaska Senate, defeating Tea Party-backed challenger and Sarah Palin favorite Joe Miller.
"Over a 100,000 Alaskan voters have correctly filled in the oval and written in 'Lisa Murkowski.' That's a pretty affirmative act of the electorate here in this state," said Murkowski in her first interview since declaring victory. She discussed her political comeback with The Last Word on Msnbc.
"Joe is trying to blame this, that, or the other thing. But, the fact of the matter is, even if we were to throw out every one of the ballots that he has challenged, he still loses by the count," said Murkowski. "He had said several days ago, if the numbers don't line up, he's not going to drag this out," she said. "He's going to have to make that call. But, Alaskans have clearly spoken and they have put it in writing."
Current totals show her in the lead by more than 10,400 votes, which includes the 8,153 ballots Miller observers challenged over things like misspellings, extra words or legibility issues. For the past few days, ballot counters have been pouring over write-in ballots, analyzing every last letter and detail. Voters had to not only write in her name, but also spell it correctly (M-U-R-K-O-W-S-K-I).
However, Miller isn't going anywhere yet. He said he'll decide whether or not to request a recount by the end of the week.
Alaska election officials confirmed they have a few hundred votes left to go, which puts Murkowski on a clear path to re-election.
She is the first Senate candidate to win a write-in campaign since Strom Thurmond in 1954. Murkowski launched the write-in campaign after a stunning loss in the state's Republican primary.
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Good news for real Americans... Palins pet lost in her home state.
Pout palin pet, pout. Not even Alaskans want her or can stand her anymore. Run for pres. in 2012 palin, run.
How does one define a real american? Is it easer or more accurate for one side to define a "real" american?
Drag it out and make yourself look bad, loser Joe. Smear as much mud and dishonor on yourself and your boss Sarah as you can. We are enjoying it down here.
Woo! Hoo!
Carlos Toadvine... real Americans? .... The great unwashed in the middle.... and my friends on the right and left, hows that.
Miller losing is good news let me have this one.
what do you guys think alaska?
This "election" in Alaska, will be decided by the courts!
No. It's over. She won.
When Miller concedes it is over - not yet!
Maybe Lisa actually cares about AK and the hugh waste of time and money!
She lost the primary. She should of been gracious and congratulated the winner. But, being amember of Congress, she assumed she is better than everyone else. This was an election to get rid of the old, dead wood.
Alaskan voters would seemingly disagree with your point, they are the ones who elected her.
What is it people don't get about a primary and general election? For anyone talking about the winner of a primary election being the automatic winner you are supporting a 2 party system status quo agenda. But if that is what gets your guy or gal elected it's ok right? That is how the system became so intolerant of new ideas. I won't even go into what I think about the winner and loser but that argument is the same BS that gives us the same BS. It isn't you're right until you disagree with me then you're wrong. Well, maybe that is what it is coming to...
Maybe I better add that I'm from Alaska. I think you'd find a lot more went into deciding this election than replublican or democrat, Palin or Obama, or whatever other polarizing views you can think of.
@ Umm... Thank you for your post...says it all, I am glad she won and not Miller. simply because things he wanted hidden came to light, and the thugs were another thing. BTW I am not even from Alaska nor live there...But this shows that Alaskans are wise...you can smell BS.
Well without a doubt the people of Alaska thought she was the better candidate. And a they put it in writing to boot.
As a resident of the great State of Alaska...I view the Lisa Murkowski victory as the lesser of two evils! Joe Miller was simply way too far right & bordered on lunatic fringe quite frankly in my opinion!
Agreed. palin scares the hell out of me as well. She can see Russia from her front porch while cleaning her bear hunting rifle and putting lipstick on her pit-bull's lips. palin needs to concentrate on being a better mother for her children instead of looking for the spotlight all the time. She can not let go of her 15 minutes of fame. Me, me, me at all cost. Narcissistic lunatic fringe is right.
You've got that right. Unfortunately her narcissism is being enabled daily by the obsessed media, right/left or "centrist", magazines, journals, books, reality shows.....it is absolutely SICKENING.
Yep, you betcha, wink, and guess what....Palin's been refudiated.
Which only goes to show one thing
P roving
A merica
L oves
I ts
N uts
Witch only goes to show one thing.
Sorry, I don't have anything as clever as your acronym. But I did want to get witch in there.
I am a Democrat, but enjoyed seeing Palin get obturbified.
That's a new word, and I approved this message - Shakespeare.
It's nice to see the people of AK elect someone who's not a total fruit loop.
I don't agree with many of Murkowski's policies - but - I would definitely say that she was the most qualified person in that field - especially over Miller - and is someone of reason.
Way to go, Alaska. Good to see that you're fine with business as usual in Washington...maybe you'll get that bridge to nowhere finished after all. "Last Frontier" my white tailpipe.
You should think about your "business as usual" statement considering how the election endorsements played out. I'm not saying Lisa is any champion for changing the system. Only concerned citizens can persuade the elected officials to pursue that course. Tea Party, Replubican or Democrat, blind leaders can offer no true guidance. That is actually what we are supposed to offer the leaders in order to serve us. Too many for too long have been unaccountable because we deemed them to know best. They aren't villians (at least not all) because they think the political system knows best. We encouraged that line of thought because we believed it too. Being a fan of democracy doesn't mean you have to be a fan of politics. Hopefully that is the message that our officials get, not that we want to castigate them endlessly in various media outlets.
Went too far off topic I guess. The only thing to keep reminding these people is to make your stands on what is right not what follows party lines.
Guilty might be interested to know Palin was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it. It also pales compared to other pork barrel projects she was pushing before she changed her mind and quit as Governer to run for Queen of the Tea Party.
It is disturbing to me to even see one follower of Nutjob Lipstick, but at the same time, it is gratifying to know there are enough critical thinkers out there to keep the Becks, Rushs, and Palins in their proper place - the lunatic fringe.
That bridge to nowhere was actually a bridge to somewhere. Katch-a-can's (sorry, can't spell today, so I'll do like the Alaska Election Commission and do it fonetikly) international airport is on an island. The bridge was intended to provide a safe, reliable connection between the airport and the city. It was a legitimate project, for public safety.
Many years ago, I was in Palau, and traveled from the airport island to the city on Korror via a 2-lane blacktop bridge. No guard rails, no breakdown lane, just two lanes and a dropoff into the Pacific Ocean. They used to go out every day to haul out the cars that drove off the bridge the previous 24 hours. Do we need that in the U S of A? A modest bridge to the airport makes sense. Sorry folks, another correction to adjust for reality.
Palin supporter Miller (a real nut job). Alaskans responded. A lesson for all of us. Would you want Palin to have the missile launch codes?
Someone should ask her what they are and what they are for and see her answer. I love her expressions and her non answers. She could say well my son checked that out and he told me they were such and such. Like she did on Glenn Beck.
The fact is the Tea Party can only win statewide elections in Kentucky, thats it. And we are talkin' Kentucky, which says a lot. It also begs the question, why did Obama and the Dems allow this loud minority to effect their agenda? And thats pretty lame. 30 million conservatives and 130 million voted in 2008. Someone needs to by the dems a calculator.
I have seen this in private business. Some work hard to correct situations and get work done and they assume others pay attention and give them credit. Not so. Obama thought since he accomplished a lot and kept our country from sliding off a cliff the American pubic some might care and appreciate it. Wrong. He had to tell them and brag about it over and over. Especially because his opponents especially Fox News and emails were telling everyone he wasn't born here, was a muslim, was destroying our country, was a communist and any other thing that they could think of. Like Pelosi said about herself if you have 75 million worth of ads against you your poll numbers might be a little bad. Same can be said about Obama. I think he is doing great and support him 100%. And I used to be a republican. I didn't realize they were so vile.
Everyone seems to get this wrong. Kentucky is a SOUTHERN state. So, no surprise they elect right-wing nut jobs. Ok, yes, it was in the Union during the UnCivil War; that doesn't make it not a Southern state. Kentucky was a slave state. It stayed a slave state through the whole UnCivil War, and after, until the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution were passed.
Just another Southern State electing a Republikkklan nut job.
Apparently Ms Palin wasn't the big influence she thought she was when she was stumping for the opponent. I think the only people from Alaska that claim Palin, are her immediate family.
Don't you think it is kind of odd that all of the really close elections, was won by Democrates. Kind of odd isn't it. I guess money still talks.
Except that Murkowski is a Republican. <pointing> HA HA!!!
Uh, yeah. Right.
Remember election 2000? Hmm? Supreme Court and all? Selection, not election?
Miller stated on Fox last night, that he will not concede, his lawyers will request a recount, and he wants the voting machines all checked. Not only is he denying the people's clear choice, but he is wasting taxpayer money and time, that should be now devoted to the biz. of the Alaskan people. This is your tea party at work. You pick extremists, you get extreme results. The tea party is corrupting the electoral process, keep up the good work tea baggers, your true colors are shining brightly.
and the stupid BITCH on the write in isn't an extremist??????
No, she's not an extremist, just a reg. Republican. Prove she is an extremist.
What I love about this is they say the very same thing about Democrats don't they? The very same thing. Only they blame Acorn and George Soros and Obama. When Miller is just proving by his own actions what he and his party of losers do all on their own. Keep it up Miller. Obstruct those votes. Anyone in their right mind should know if you put Murkowski a republican on the ballot they are not voting for Miller. And that is one that he wants thrown out. And then he blames the computers. Duh. Do you mean maybe the computers were wrong all across the country and the republicans didn't really win the house. We should all have a recount then shouldn't we if we can't trust the computers. Such whiny excuses. They need to go sip their tea.
I think EDD's coments about the "stupid bitch" spoke volumes of HIS intelligence.............or lack there of.
That Joe Miller is still refusing to concede shows not only what he is but what Tea Party is.
What Tea Party candidates who actually were elected will want to do is keep to power by whatever means possible, including means contrary to the law.
Next election, expect violence at poll places, expect voter intimidation, expect brutality against non-Tea Party candidates and voters, expect people being jailed on trumped-up charges or killed.
We are dealing with a force much like the Nazis both in their message and in their character. Kudos to Lisa Murkowski for standing up to these creeps.
I agree. While they are accusing the other side of communism and whatever they are practicing it. Handcuffing, headstomping, silencing people anyway they can. And then meddling in other states elections by sending massive amounts of money and making tons of calls. And someone put in our local paper that on election day at the polls they check the voting roles to see if people voted and if they haven't they call them up to tell them to come to vote. And they don't see a thing wrong with it.
You go Joe, really just go and quit wasting tax payers money. The people have spoken not only kudos to Lisa but also to the Alaskan voters who made the right choice! Maybee next time get some more experience not just empty slogans and try again.
I don't know much about either of these candidates. I do know two things, after working in many elections:
!. mail in/paper ballots are always hard to handle, but the mis-spelling of a name is just a technicality, if you can tell the intent.
2. it would seem impossible for a candidate who lost in the primary, to win a write in vote in the General election unless a lot of people who voted in the Democrat primary , crossed over for the general election. The only other answer would be that a whole lot more people voted in the general election than came out for the primary.
What happened to the concept of candidate qualifications like experience, academic training, subject matter competency? The Tea Party candidate makes a mockery of this, all they strive for is power and the chance to preach hate ... they should be ashamed of themslves as well as their followers. Hats off to Lisa for perservering.
Bob, you don't seem to understand the electorial process. Primaries are one thing, the general election is another. We have seen that with plenty of other recent primaries. Joe Leberman is a good example. You can rally enough people with a grassroot efforts to rid yourself of an encumbent but there are plenty of people that don't vote during a primary but will for a general election. This is one of those cases where the tea-party was trumped by the rest of the republicans that didn't vote during the primary. Remember that there was a Democrat running as well so this was really between the tea-party and the run of the mill republicans of Alaska. I am not a republican but I applaud the winner. Now it is the tea-party that believe they are entitled.
Same for me. I used to be a repub until they started misbehaving to use the term lightly. But I have been watching this race and hoping for Murkowski to defeat the handcuffer and ethics violater. And Palin doesn't seem to understand what the presidency is even about either. When you are president you deal with real problems and issues not made up ones when you are reckless and expose yourself to the elements like she is doing in her recent tv escapade. Who would risk their childs life being 10 feet or less from a hungry bear? For a tv show? And I love the way when she was climbing the rock she said she wasn't a quitter. Really. Wasn't she governor and quit? Does she think people are total dimwits? With no memories.
Congrats to Lisa, I'm glad common sense prevailed among the voters of Alaska
John There was two Dimocrats running..
When she was sending all that money to Nevada and Kentucky and Delaware and Illinois and all the other states I bet she forgot to send 80% to Alaska. I love it. This is a black eye or a poke in the nose to her. If she were a Dem the Republicans would have their bullhorns out yelling to beat the band. And what about those Alaskan ethics? It sounds a bit like they are ethically challenged. And they love to hate Acorn but no Acorn needed apparently there because Mickey Mouse and Snoopy along with 159 others appeared on their own. In the meantime Palin is on tv saying she can beat Obama. Really? when she can't get her own teaparty elected in her own state. The GOP loves to say they won but ODonnell, Angle, and Miller were defeated and Reid the one they wanted to lose the worst won. And in Illinois Quinn a Democrat won. Maybe they didn't win quite as much as they would like to brag about. And now they have to demonstrate they are no longer the party of no. But so far they are still saying no. Is it time for the next election yet? We need a change.
She said if she lost the primary she would drop out of the race.. First thing she did when she lost the primary, started a write-in campaign and what do the morons in Alaska do, they reward her with another term. Thanks Alaska thanks for electing another embedded incumbant. No wonder that freak'n state is so backwards.
Wow--"Commonsense" and "Texan" in the same name. Isn't that a bit of an oxymoron?
Lots of people say things that they don't act on--it's called a rhetorical ploy. I could name any number of Republicans who claimed they would leave the country if Obama was elected--they are all still here. Hyperbole lives.
Now, if Texas would only give back all that nasty federal money that is "oppressing" them (being that the state gets more money than they send in taxes, but whine about being taxed to the gills), perhaps we would stop thinking that ya'll have it a bit backwards. Not to mention the hostility to all those people who come in speaking Spanish and "polluting" your state--in San Antonio, El Paso, and . . . . No, there were never Spanish speakers in that state long before the Anglos got there and land grabbed. It was all just pasture on which the Spanish monarch of Mexico ran cattle. Yeah, that's the ticket!
"Commonsense" Texan--boy that's an oxymoron. And you think Alaska is backwards? I made the mistake of moving to Texas from Pennsylvania 22 years ago and I still can't get over the dominant mentality and the number of pick-up trucks. Politics is all about lies, games and manipulation, in case you haven't figured that out. Voting has basically come down to the lesser of the evils almost all the time. In this case, AMEN that at least a rational liar won.
If you are enjoying Lisa's victory (as I am, a Democrat), maybe you understand what choice, free elections and America is all about.
Repudiating (notice how I use words that exist already instead of making a mistake and then pretending that I am making one up?) the pressure from Queen Sarah and King Rush (along with Court Jester Beck), discounting the money flowing in from the Tea Party, and using their own brains, the people from Alaska have spoken. Joe Miller is evidently not listening even now. Poor Joe! Poor Sarah! Poor Tbaggers!
As an Alaska resident of 44 years (yes, I actually chose to live and raise children in that "backwards state"), I must add my two cents. While I am not a registered Republican, I must loudly applaud the people of my state for standing against the extreme views of Joe Miller. Philosophically, he and Lisa do not differ in some respects and I do not always agree with those views. However, I cannot imagine her staff handcuffing journalists to protect herself against anyone who questions her views. Therein lies a major difference! Again, thanks to all who took the time & energy to express their opinion.
I almost had some respect for Senator Murkowski, almost. When Chris Hayes asked her two yes or no questions about DADT & The Dream act, she waffled and changed the subject to not answer any pointed questions. Typical political BS, and typical of these elections of the Republicans and the Tea Partiers, NEVER take a stand on anything, then change the subject. The election is over, take a stand, Man-Up, it's time to get to work.
The Tea Baggers and Joe Miller want to make sure the names are spelled correctly...
Doesn't the "INTENT" of the voter have anything to do with it ?
These "IDEOLOGICAL" tea baggers dont give a crap about ideology when it comes to their guy possibly loosing...