DeMint comments on an Alaska RINO

[idlewind]

From Senator Jim DeMint's newsletter:

This past Friday, Senator Lisa Murkowski announced plans seek re-election as a write-in candidate in Alaska. Rather than accepting defeat and working to unite Republicans behind Joe Miller, she has decided to put her own personal interests ahead of everything else.

In an interview this past weekend, Murkowski attacked me for working against her. According to The Hill newspaper, she had this to say about me: "I don't think that's it's particularly helpful to undercut fellow Republicans." This might be a fair criticism if she weren't the one running a write-in campaign against Republican nominee in her state.

The establishment loves to lecture conservatives about how we need to support liberal candidates to "expand the tent" and win seats for Republicans. But when these Republican-in-name-only ("RINO") lose their primaries, many leave the party and join the opposition. When Arlen Specter faced defeat in the Pennsylvania, he left the party. When Charlie Crist faced defeat in Florida, he did the same. And now Lisa Murkowski is following in their footsteps.

When conservatives lose their primaries, however, they accept defeat and support the nominee. Murkowski's betrayal provides more proof that big-tent hypocrites don't really care about winning a majority for Republicans. They only care about winning a majority for themselves.

 

[TooFarTampa]

DeMint knows her candidacy could muck up the entire Alaska senate race. It seems more unpredictable than Florida even, if she raises enough funds to stay in the race.

You can argue that the bad blood between Palin and Murkowski is fueling her write in candidacy, but it also can be said that DeMint is calling her a RINO not because she is one but it fires up the base and might get more people to back DeMint and Palin's candidate.

Murkowski is an establishment Republican and not in any way a RINO. She had power as a ranking energy committee member and Alaska shot itself in the foot by electing Joe Miller in the primary. Can't wait to see how this one turns out!

 

[scooterbug44]

Since she lost the primary, why does she think she will win as a write-in? Unless I am missing something major here, it is unlikely she will get enough Republican votes/overall votes.

 

[idlewind]

Its called being a sore loser. People like her want party unity as long as it benefits them.

 

[TooFarTampa]

She apparently has some support, has nothing else to do and nothing to lose. Plus she's really, really mad at Joe Miller and despises Palin.

Reports are that many people did not vote in the primaries thinking she was a lock, and also that some democrats voted (in the open primary) for Miller because they thought their guy would have an easier time beating him.

Alaska is a traditionaly red state and many mainstream voters are torn between voting for an extreme candidate (Miller) or a mainstream, seemingly quite sensible Democrat (Scott McAdams). Many of those folks urged Murkowski to run as a write-in. Miller could beat them both, but it might also happen that that Murkowski will spoil his bid by splitting the GOP vote and McAdams (who has some decent and enthusiastic support) could win, OR Murkowski will get a groundswell of establishment support, bolstered by Democrats who want anything but Miller. As I said, fun to watch!

 

[30ashopper]

I just hope Miller wins, the guy is sharp and has a lot of really good ideas. A true 'realist' libertarian. We need more folks like him in Congress.