JUNEAU, Alaska—
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is joining the call for Republicans and Democrats to sit together -- and forgo party-bloc seating -- during the president's State of the Union address.Murkowski is the lead Republican supporting the effort proposed by Colorado Sen. Mark Udall, a Democrat. She has shown signs of returning to her centrist roots since her successful outside run as a write-in candidate last fall.
She and Udall have sent a letter to colleagues, asking them to help send the message of a unified Congress during the address. They've also sent a letter to party leadership.
Murkowski spokesman Michael Brumas says the seating arrangement is largely a symbolic but also a heartfelt gesture. He believes Murkowski intends to "make good on her call" regardless of what leadership decides.
