CNN’s headline says it all: TRENDING: Palin also a big winner Tuesday. She’s pictured with once beleaguered John McCain, who won in a slow walk against wingnut J.D. Hayworth. Proving that Palin is strategic with her endorsements, but also loyal and willing to put slights aside for something greater. Because after the McCain teams handling of Sarah Palin in ’08, she doesn’t owe the Senator squat.
The huge news is out of Alaska, where the Tea Party-backed candidate Joe Miller gave credit to Sarah Palin for where he stands today. Absentee ballots and other provisional and questionable entries will decide the contest.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is battling for her political life this morning against Republican primary challenger Joe Miller, the Tea Party-backed candidate who had a slim lead as ballots continued to be counted overnight. Miller, a Fairbanks attorney, led from when the first returns came in Tuesday night, and was on the verge of pulling off one of the biggest election upsets ever in Alaska. With 84 percent of Alaska’s precincts reporting around 2 a.m., Miller had 45,188 votes to 42,633 for Murkowski.
Miller credited the support of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for his lead. “I’m absolutely certain that was pivotal,” he said.
Sarah understands the voters in Alaska, whether they like her or not. That Sen. Murkowski is in this close a battle, with Miller leading as of right now, is a stunner.
With 98 percent of precincts counted, Murkowski trailed political newcomer Joe Miller by 1,960 votes out of more than 91,000 counted. As many as 16,000 absentee votes, as well as an undetermined number of provisional or questioned ballots, remain to be counted.
Miller had 45,909 votes, 51 percent, while Murkowski had 43,949 votes, 49 percent. Miller had maintained a lead throughout the night, but his lead fluctuated as ballots were counted.
Sarah Palin makes many people crazy, but she understands the mood if the country right now, especially on the right, and is fairly fearless about putting herself on the line, with the latest possibility of beating Lisa Murkowski no doubt particularly sweet. Taking on establishment Republicans is not always what Palin does, but it’s obviously what she loves best.
The other thing about Sarah Palin and what her Tea Party power and “mama grizzlies” are doing is riding a national wave of discontent by feeding into it however she can. It’s not about a long-term strategy at all. It’s all about winning in 2010, then taking it from there. It’s the smart play, because the moment is now and won’t last forever. But if Palin and the Tea Party make gains in Congress who knows what could happen down the line?
This one shocked me big time. The polls showed that Murkowski was way ahead and Miller was no where close, so when the results starting coming in and Miller had a good size lead, it shocked me. But people better not underestimate Sarah Palin. She knows what shes doing. Its not about 2012 right now, its about 2010. John Mccain won in Arizona, Marco Rubio in FL, and maybe Joe Miller in Alaska and thats not including others Sarah has endorced. The old saying goes, “I scratch your back and you scratch mine” Its politics basicly, “I help you and you help me” I am wondering how many tea party candidates will win this fall. But one things for sure, Sarah Palin is not only queen of the tea party, but she is queen of the Republican party.
People should be somewhat leary about polls come Nov.
Palin has no idea what’s she’s doing, really. Crazy is as crazy does. She is nothing but a brand at this point, the money is good, and the crazies are voting for the “nonestablishment” candidate. That’s all.
If I read the numbers right, and my apologies for not
remembering where in order to link it, she is about 50-50 right now on candidates backed.
I will remain firm in the fact that I think she flames out before 2012. If not, then we know 2010 and 2012 will remain in Democrats hands.
For all the unhappy campers about the Dems right now, it’s either them or the extreme wing nuts. Even my conservative parents cringe at the thought of a Sharon Angle having power in the Senate.
read miller’s website. scary. no abortion for any woman ever. abolish ss etc.. if he wins it will be partly due to a anti abortion law on the ballot to restrict young women from having the procedure. i respect murkowwski- dont agree with her on alot but she has cosponsored and passed choice legislation with boxer among other things. its kind of sad. so few women in the senate.
Still a ways to go on this one. It seems hard to fathom that Alaska would elect a guy that wants to stop receiving federal funds, but its a crazy season to be sure. Might this not be an opening for the Democrat in this case? Either way, having two backbenchers in the Senate can’t be good for Alaska.
I totally agree that its the smart play for Palin because she’ll never have any legitimate juice in the GOP as it is constructed now, of course the question becomes whether or not mainstream voters are ready for the tea-party wackjobs she supports. Guess that’s why they make popcorn.
16000 outstanding ballots. murkowski must win 60 pct fo them and those would need to come from bush country. rural ak is pro pork. msot folks get subsidies etc. silvber says murkowski has a tall order- must get 60pct of those ballots and we wont get thos ecounts for a week or more.
Give the half term governor her props, she managed to shiv one of her most hated political enemies. Momma Grizzly indeed.
Sarah will be counted out and in many times between now and 2012. Today she is in. Yesterday she was out. She really is unlike any other politician out there. She is about high risk and high reward. It is refreshing. No one can say they don’t where this woman really stands. I may not always agree with her, but I know what she believes and and I know where she stands. I can’t say that about many politicians out there.
Yeah, she belives in things that aren’t real, my friend. She stands in an alternate universe that is fading as we speak. I’ll just never understand how anyone can admire a person who has absolutely no substance or knowledge of policy, the constitution, etc. And it’s clear she doesn’t. She also quit a great public service job to pursue money and fame. I just can’t admire that.
She has no substance or knowledge of policy, but she does have clout. And she has more power not being gov. of Alaska – somebody is listening to her. Go figure.
Yes, she has clout, but only to a certain and narrow constituancy. Keep that in mind come general election time.
There is a vast majority of women voters who see her and still cringe; the momma grizzlies are still a minority compared to the feminist intellect. As I said, her brand will fade. You can only sell a worthless tonic for so long.
I agree.
That “worthless tonic” is going to be what cures what ails this country.
You don’t know her motives for quitting. You hate her , therefore her motives must fit into your own closed-minded view of her. If it were a male Democrat who did it you would be assigning positive motives. Your opinion is not fact.
Yeah, the Tea Party’s elected members will be running for their political lives come 2012 when they prove to accomplish no more than what Congress achieves the rest of the time. The big difference then, of course, will be the Tea Partiers will be begging for “more time” because “change can’t come overnight” (despite all their current campaign sloganeering).
And Sarah Palin may be of help when it comes to electing other people, but the fact that she quit as Governor just a few months after she and McCain were defeated will NOT be ignored (much less forgotten) during any GOP Presidential primary campaign. Reagan’s so-called 11th Commandment has been so badly mauled during this year’s GOP races that Sarah won’t be able to hide behind her “charms” and “folksyisms” when she’s forced to debate her challengers. Granted, few of the current crop of possible GOP candidates for Pres are “free from sin” but none simply quit their elected position because they couldn’t handle the negative criticism they faced (Gingrich did resign from the House after having been reelected but his resignation was largely seen as a form of seppuku since the GOP took some significant hits in the 1998 election; IOW, he took a fall for the good of the Party).
I don’t know if she will run for president or not, but she does have clout. She might just remain a celebrity. She has a book coming out as well as a tv show on TLC. I don’t see her leaving the lime light anytime soon.
Read my post above concerning her “clout”.
The lime light she is bathed in is a very slim and narrow one. How else could you explain her only appearing on Fox News and no other media outlet? She only appeals to a small minority and come 2012 her clout will be gone. One can only duck reality and current events for so long before the schtick wears thin.
She is and never was a serious player, just a seeker of fame. That can’t last forever if you have nothing new to offer.
murkowski is pondering an indie run. and she should. meet the gop to sink us all- if u ever divert once from what the extreme activists wish u will be cut. murkowski cuts some deals to protect choice, womens health etc.. so palin and buds put ont he ballot prop 2- the restrict 17 under gals from choice. the nuts came out strong to make sure the young ladies have no choice and put in miller- who opposes all choice evn if u are raped. oh and he has questioned allowing ladies birth control too. So bolt Lisa. If not Ims ending money to Dem McAdams who is sane.
of course I want McAdams – a decent small town dem mayor to win. i read on mudflats murkowski felt entitled to her seat and held her warchest, let miller define her and lost a 40pt lead. with out idiot party runnin against bush and not a plan to save the suffering i expect alot new nuts next year in congress! progs told obama what to do to keep it all otgether. the sad thing is obama may get what he deserves this november- but oh what a price for the people lies ahead.