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Sarah Palin Backing of Rival No Cause for Feud, Alaska Sen. Murkowski Says

1 year ago
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Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski insists there's no "blood war" between her and Sarah Palin, even though the former governor is backing Murkowski's little-known rival in the 2010 Republican primary for Senate. Fair enough, but it doesn't sound like the two are going to have a chummy coffee anytime soon, either.

"It was a bit of a surprise, and only because she has been supportive of my work on behalf of the state of Alaska and has publicly said so," Murkowski said in an interview with The Hill newspaper.

Palin, along with the conservative Tea Party movement, endorsed Fairbanks lawyer Joe Miller, who is challenging Murkowski in Alaska's Aug. 24 Republican Senate primary. Palin's endorsement of Miller "does not make me think any less of her," Murkowski said. The two-term senator said she is not sure where Palin is headed "with her political ambitions, but maybe this just fits right in."
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska
Murkowski and her family have a history with the 2008 vice presidential candidate. Palin defeated Murkowski's father, former Gov. Frank Murkowski, in the 2006 Alaska gubernatorial primary, denying him another term. And when Palin resigned as governor last year, Lisa Murkowski said she was "deeply disappointed" that Palin decided to abandon the state before the end of her term.

Lisa Murkowski is paying a price for that remark, Anchorage GOP pollster Mark Hellenthal told The Hill. "Sarah's very vindictive."

Yet Murkowski insisted in the newspaper interview that she doesn't "have any differences on issues" with Palin. And she dismissed speculation of the uninformed who might think "there's some kind of blood war or something that goes on between the Palins and the Murkowskis." Instead, she expects to "continue to have the respectful professional relationship. I think some people assumed that because we're from a small state (population wise) and we're both Republican women that we get together for coffee every Monday."

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7 Comments

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norfwest

Exactly what is a common sense conservative? Most conservatives with any common sense are more moderate and towards the middle than she or the Tea Party.

August 07 2010 at 11:51 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
John

Of course Palin's backing of Murkowski's opponent is no need for a feud, because Palin's backing of the opponenent guarantees Murkowski's win. Murkowski is very aware that an endorsement by Palin is the kiss of death.

August 07 2010 at 11:13 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
dc walker

The little I've heard of Miller he is dynooooomite.

August 06 2010 at 8:47 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
ernestvalerius

The endorsement of a former mayor of a small town in Alaska has little effect on any race of consequence.

August 06 2010 at 5:47 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
msgusarmyret77

I hope all the Tea Party canidates win. By the time of the election the voters are going to be made aware of just what the Tea Party is and what their canidates stand for.

August 06 2010 at 3:43 PM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to msgusarmyret77's comment
atlasusa

The Tea Party candidates, like Sharron Angle, are a BLESSING to the Democrats. They are the gift that just keeps on giving. . . . . and most likely will HELP elect Democrats come November !

August 06 2010 at 4:32 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
retfla2

Good for her. It is possible for people to disagree and still be respectful of each other.

August 06 2010 at 3:04 PM Report abuse +14 rate up rate down Reply
JJRFordGuy

I wouldn't worry....Everyone she has backed in the past couple weeks have dropped in the poles almost over night. 3 canidates she supported lost primaries this week alone! Let her, it will only help Murkowski!

August 06 2010 at 2:26 PM Report abuse +5 rate up rate down Reply
atlasusa

Sarah Palin is consumed by revenge. She will end up wasting time, energy and resources on vendettas with rivals and the likes of levi Johnston. In the end, she will be so consumed by ill-feeling and defending herself, she will be forced to relinquish her political ambitions like she abandoned the governorship of Alaska. Right now she seems to be the personification of ADHD and incapable of properly focusing on one or two essential concerns, be it personal/family or political.

August 06 2010 at 2:08 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
bpdarling

Yes, Sarah Palin IS INDEED very vindictive. Those in Alaska who she percieves to have "harmed her" in any way have ABSOLUTELY felt her wrath and abuse of her power while she was Governor for that short period of time before she resigned. One theory behind her resignation is that she was accused of violating several major ETHICS rules in Alaska, and she wanted to avoid a conviction on that. There was also a recall effort brewing against her. She ALIENATED Juneau early on and never really had any support in Alsaka amongst the people. THAT is why she spends little time there nad rarely speaks in public in Alaska. We just don;t care and don;t want the negative attention up here. Alaska residents are EMBARRASASED by the way Ms. Palin has "represented" us.

Also, her endorsements of candidates are TOXIC, so I think Ms. Murkowski has LITTLE to worry about with this endorsement. This like almost EVERYTHING Ms. Palin does will quickly become media fodder and deemed a big joke!

August 06 2010 at 1:19 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply

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