On Friday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who is seeking her second full term in the Senate, announced endorsements from the Marine Conservation Alliance and Fairbanks Mayor Terry Strle.
David Benton, executive director of the Marine Conservation Alliance, said in a statement that he supports Murkowski’s efforts to prevent the Obama administration from imposing greenhouse gas regulations that could hurt economic growth.
Strle praised Murkowski’s attention to the needs of Interior Alaska, calling her a “proven fighter” who’s leadership is needed in the Senate.
“From mines to military bases, Fairbanks is home to a range of industries and sectors that are critical to our state’s economy,” Murkowski said in a statement welcoming Strle’s endorsement. “It’s also a city where Alaska’s
conservative spirit — built on principles that the rest of our nation must remember and return to — runs incredibly deep.”
Murkowski’s website lists the backing of 21 members of the Alaska Legislature, including Rep. Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, and Rep. John Harris, R-Valdez, whose district reaches up the Richardson Highway to just outside North Pole.
She also has the backing of the National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund.
Joe Miller gathers big national names
While Murkowski’s opponent, Fairbanks attorney Joe Miller, has garnered less support from state legislators than Murkowski, he has received the packing of the national Tea Party Express, the Alaska Right to Life, and national talk show hosts Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, Lars Larson and Martha Zoller. His legislative supporters in Alaska include Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole; Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River; Rep Wes Keller, R-Wasilla; and Rep. Tammy Wilson, R-North Pole.
Former Gov. Sarah Palin announced early in the campaign she is supporting Miller’s candidacy, and earlier this month, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is a possible presidential candidate in 2012, said he supports Miller.
“A former state magistrate and federal judge, Joe possesses a deep understanding of the law, but more importantly understands its impact on the people,” Huckabee said in a statement posted on Miller’s campaign Web site. “With the federal government encroaching quickly into every aspect of our lives — we need Joe in the U.S. Senate to help Congress make the correct decisions to bring Washington back to the limited role envisioned by the Founding Founders.”
Meanwhile, Murkowski has a wide fund-raising advantage over Miller.
For the 2009-10 election cycle, Murkowski has raised at least
$3.5 million; Miller, who entered his first statewide run for office this spring, has raised more than $283,000.
Miller's overall figure, according to a federal election filing dated Aug. 11, includes $103,900 in candidate loans and $5,000 from Sarah Palin’s PAC.
Murkowski’s overall includes $1.9 million from PACs.
Miller, a self-described constitutional conservative, reported $84,200 on hand as of Aug. 4; Murkowski reported $1.8 million available at that time.
Contact staff writer Chris Freiberg at 459-7545.
Anyone on Social Security and Medicare needs to know Joe favors phasing out those programs and will vote for every cut he can.
Miller also doesn't favor abortion in cases of rape and incest.
LISA MURKOWSKI = R.I.N.O.
She is a nepotistic elitist skin crawling political Machiavellian power climber who sells out our dearest Conservative Constitutional ideals. A genuine conservative phony! Enough of them, all of them! If they can't stand a simple basic conservative test on these ideals then throw 'em out, throw all the R.I.N.O's out and let the door hit them on the way out now, our nation is dieing we have no time to mess with them anymore!