I now think this too was a rigged election.
Dang right it was. She lost the primary to Joe Miller but refused to back down. Ran the write in. Her campaign went out and registered every Tom, Dick and Harry in the far reaches. iirc a number of them were infirmed or did not know what they were doing. In any case, like you, I’ve never believed it was a legitimate win. Joe Miller pushed it as well. He was a great candidate. Would have made a great Senator.