Murkowski lost because she was and still is a RINO.
I never liked her when she was a state legislator in Anch. All she talked about was social issues, womens issues; I thought to myself,, and she calls herself a conservative?
I was pissed when her dad gave his daughter the seat, nepotism at it's finest.
I watched her crawl up Obama's behind over the last year and thought: Might as well have a dem in there as her.
Ya know, average Alaskans who are registered Repubs are quick to say the heck with the established Repub Party, usually vote for AIP which is ultra conservative. Now the Tea Party will benefit from their support thru Palin. Alaskans still trust her more than anybody else, they know her record of accomplishments since the early 90's and know she is for real.