Posted on 08/26/2010 7:00:44 AM PDT by Immerito
Incumbent GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski's stunning setback in Alaska sends a powerful message to political insiders in both parties: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is now the GOP's clear No. 1 kingmaker.
Upstart candidate Joe Miller, who made a lightning-fast rise in the polls following Palin's endorsement and robo calls, credited Palin for his primary shocker.
"I'm absolutely certain that was pivotal," he told The Anchorage Daily News.
With an estimated 98 percent of the vote tallied — and with thousands of absentee ballots yet to be counted — Miller leads Murkowski by 1,960 votes.
Political pundits suggest the outcome elevates Palin to unique status within the Republican Party.
"Clearly Sarah Palin is the most influential Republican in America," Democratic pollster and Fox News commentator Douglas Schoen tells Newsmax. "That much is clear as the primary season winds down. And Palin clearly is the candidate who will generate the most enthusiasm if she runs in 2012."
Miller appeared to come out of nowhere in the campaign's closing days. A poll that RT Nielsen released Friday showed Murkowski still leading Miller by a strong margin, 47 percent to 35 percent.
The Murkowski and Palin families are considered rivals in Alaska politics. Murkowski blasted Palin's involvement in the race on Tuesday.
"I think she's out for her own self-interest," Murkowski told the Daily News Tuesday. "I don't think she's out for Alaska's interest."
Whether Murkowski can prevail somehow is far from clear. The Alaska Division of Elections received more than 16,000 requests for absentee ballots. Of those, 7,600 had been recorded as returned as of Monday.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
I think instead that it shows that all of the spin about Palin being damaged goods in Alaska is just that - spin.
All the more imperative for the RINOs to steal the primary.
“I think she’s out for her own self-interest,” Murkowski told the Daily News Tuesday. “I don’t think she’s out for Alaska’s interest.” ............................................. Tell her, Palin isn’t running for anything in Alaska, its about Miller. All Palin did was put the spot light on him.
Pass the sour grapes.
vaudine
just curious... did Palin personally attack Murkowski in any fashion similar to this? ...and what item of self interest did Palin have in backing a candidate who was WAY behind and almost NO ONE expected to win?
jw
And queen deposer. Speaking of deposing queens, I wonder whom she will support to run against Barney Frank.
This should be Palins theme song. “The Platters, 1956 - (You’ve Got) The Magic Touch”
Politico had a story today about how the Washington Republican National Committee was backing hack daughter of GOP hack father, Murkowski, with 2 million dollars the last few days. Murkowski out spent Miller 15 to 1, had her hack pappy’s name, the support of the state and national GOP, and lost.
Yeah, Palin and the Tea Party had nothing to do with it.
(Mitt Romney is waiting for the official winner, so his Free And Strong PAC can peak out like a mouse from a hole, and support the winner. )
The Murkowski’s are full of it. They always tend to forget what the ole Man did to Palin in 02, how the Alaskan People saw everything unfold, and why in the nx election Palin beat Lisa’s dad 51% to 19 % in the primary. The pundits & polls predicted a Murkowski win in that one also. Polls don’t mean crap in Alaska. The people’s sense of right and wrong does.
Well, duh.
This is why Sarah terrifies the Dems . . . . . . conservatives (not necessarily Republicans) LOVE her!! And, she has the ability to sway her supporters. That's why the leftists will intensify their "politics of personal destruction" against her. It will get VERY, VERY dirty after November, if we let them!!
I don’t think endorsements are worth what some bloggers and pundits think they’re worth.
Miller had better beware of the old “missing ballots found in a car trunk” trick. That’s what the left pulled on Coleman and don’t think a RINO like little Lisa would be loathe to try it.
And Murkowski can NOT have that! Her father was taken down by Palin, and Lisa is determined to get revenge. Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!
Combine the messages from posts 14 and 15 and the next week or so could be very interesting.
In Palin's case they clearly can be the deal changer.
She looks like a first cousin to Pelosi !!!
Maybe a 3rd cousin to Cindy Sheehan!!
There is no way in hell that the left and the media will let Murkowski lose, especially to a Palin-endorsed candidate.
They will pull every trick in the book to steal this election.
Bank on it.
And if Miller does win, does anyone think the MSM will give Palin an ounce of credit?
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