A new poll shows Alaskans might be interested in Sen. Lisa Murkowski staying in the race for U.S. Senate. Murkowski's friend, Andrew Halcro, commissioned a poll showing that in a three-way Senate race Murkowski comes out on top.
The current Libertarian candidate, David Haase, says he's willing to sit down with Murkowski and talk with her about switching parties to stay in the race. Haase's platform, called the “People's Bailout,” is a financial plan he created -- and he wants to know what Murkowski thinks about it.
Just days ago, Murkowski conceded the Republican U.S. Senate primary to challenger Joe Miller. Last week she didn't have the votes, but have people's feelings changed? A new poll says yes.
“Lisa Murkowski has a 64 percent positive and a 35 percent negative; Joe Miller had a 41 percent positive and a 50 percent negative,” Halcro said. “I have to say, in all my years of watching politics, I've never seen somebody so new to politics have such a high negative rating as Joe Miller.”
Halcro commissioned a poll from Dittman Research, showing that Murkowski would win if she joined the Libertarian ticket.
“I have not talked with the Libertarians, but I know there have been discussions and they're not quite at no,” Halcro said. “I mean, they're interested in sitting down and talking with Lisa Murkowski, and the latest polls and -- she's considering all of her options.”
The current Libertarian candidate, Haase, says he's willing to talk with Murkowski. He'd like to know her thoughts on his top priorities.
“I've got nothing but respect for Lisa Murkowski; she's a smart lady,” Haase said. “If somebody would take up the banner and do a better job of getting the word out to the people, I would feel obligated to pass that banner to somebody.”
Miller has previously said Murkowski should honor her word and stay out of the race if she couldn't win the Republican ticket.
“I think, given the type of campaign Joe Miller ran -- I mean how arrogant and how brutally misleading it was -- I don't think Joe Miller has any room to stand on people keeping their word,” Halcro said. “This was a guy who won this election based on tons and tons of Outside cash, that was nothing but mudslinging, and so as far as I'm concerned, Lisa Murkowski is absolutely right to consider all of her options.”
Halcro says Murkowski told him she'll make a decision sooner rather than later.
The Libertarian Party’s chair, Scott Kohlhaas, says he doubts it's going to happen. Even if Haase drops out of the race, the party's executive board would have to approve Murkowski.
The party previously voted unanimously against allowing Murkowski on the ticket, saying she doesn't reflect the values of their party.
The Miller campaign declined to comment Thursday.
Contact Rebecca Palsha at rpalsha@ktuu.com
