ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A conservative Alaska lawyer credits his primary vote lead over U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski largely to “common-sense” voters dissatisfied with the direction the federal government has taken.
Joe Miller, a 43-year-old Fairbanks resident, stunned political pundits this week with his 1,688-vote lead over Murkowski in the Republican primary.
Murkowski was heavily favored to win — and still could. She’s banking on rallying when thousands of absentee ballots are counted.
Miller says his campaign also was boosted by the endorsement of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and the involvement of the Tea Party Express.
The race’s outcome will remain in limbo at least until Tuesday. That’s when state elections workers will begin to count absentee ballots. They have until Sept. 8 to deliver a final tally.
