Alaska Senate Update

This from www.politics1.com

ALASKA SENATE UPDATE. Candidate filing closed in Alaska this week, leaving a crowded field of hopefuls running against US Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Murkowski was appointed to the job last year by her father -- Frank Murkowski (R) -- to fill the seat he vacated when he was elected Governor in 2002. The complaints of nepotism prompted several of those to enter the race. To survive the GOP primary, Murkowski must first defeat former State Senate President Mike Miller and former US Attorney Wev Shea. Lieutenant Governor Loren Leman (R) -- who was Murkowski's runningmate in 2002 -- broke ranks with his boss and endorsed Miller last month. If Murkowski wins the primary, as is expected, she will face a very tough November race against former Governor Tony Knowles (D). The latest KTUU-TV monthly tracking poll released Wednesday shows that Knowles has regained the lead from Murkowski by a 46% to 41% vote. Even worse news for Murkowski is that two former GOP state legislators -- running as third party candidates -- also filed to appear on the November ballot and siphon away some Republican votes. Former State Rep. Ray Metcalfe is unopposed for the US Senate nomination of the Republican Moderate Party he founded, while former State Rep. Jerry Sanders is favored to win the Alaska Independence Party primary over paralegal Donald DeNardo. The poll also showed perennial candidate Jim Sykes (Green) in last place with just 1%. Combine all these factors and this seat looks to be one of the most promising Democratic prospects to score a pickup in the Senate this year.

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