Murkowski Target in Senate Debate
The Washington Examiner reports:
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — Alaska Senate hopeful Joe Miller focused on GOP rival Sen. Lisa Murkowski during the last debate before next week's election, seeking to shore up his conservative base and win over voters following a series of high-profile campaign stumbles.
Miller, who beat Murkowski in the August primary, used a candidate-to-candidate question during the Alaska Public Broadcasting debate Wednesday to ask Democrat Scott McAdams to compare his experience as a local official to that of Murkowski's when she first took office.
McAdams served eight years as a school board member and mayor. Murkowski was a state legislator when her father appointed her to his long-held Senate seat when he was elected governor in 2002. Murkowski has criticized McAdams as too inexperienced for the job.
Miller also challenged Murkowski positions and past votes, including those related to illegal immigration and cap-and-trade legislation.
Murkowski fired back, questioning, as an example, Miller's stated respect for South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, who has provided Miller help in his campaign. She said DeMint has been "almost dogged" in fighting against the "Alaska agenda."
McAdams, too, focused much of his attention on Murkowski, questioning how often she has voted with her party. He has suggested she puts party over policy — a claim she flatly disputes, saying she puts Alaska's interests first. He took issue with that, saying she has voted against some Alaska projects.
The back-and-forth underscores the tricky dynamic of the three-way race. Polls suggest it's tight; analysts believe the race could go to any of the three candidates — depending, in part, on who peaks when the votes are cast. There's also the uncertainty surrounding the write-in process — whether voters will have problems with it and how big a role challenges will play.
