ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
It's been an emotional day for Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski's staff and supporters realizing they don't have the votes to push on to November's general election.Tuesday’s count had Joe Miller ahead with 51 percent of the vote to Murkowski’s 49 percent, the margin between the two candidate’s just 1,630 votes.
“I don't see a scenario where the primary will turn out in my favor. It is a reality that is before me at this point in time and for that reason and for the good of the state of Alaska, which is what this is all about, it’s for the good of the state of Alaska I am now conceding the race for the representative nomination,” Murkowski said at a press conference held Tuesday night.
After a tough primary race for Miller, the next race begins.
It wasn't so long ago when the name Joe Miller wasn't known across the state and now his challenger, Scott McAdams, hopes to become a household name as well.
“Alaska deserves better. Lisa deserves better, but now it's my job to take on the mantel of an independent moderate, to go out and fight for Alaska,” said McAdams.
McAdams says voters will side with him and argues that Miller's feelings on cutting federal spending to the state aren't realistic.
“One-third of our state’s economy is based on federal spending. To say we're going to do away with that, I don't think is in the interest of Alaska. In fact, I think it would bankrupt our state,” McAdams said.
But Miller believes Murkowski supporters will become his.
“In respect to the senator's supporters, they are our supporters. They should be. It is about Alaska. That's what this race is all about. It’s about moving this state forward in a way that we've got jobs for our kids. We've got jobs for us now. It's a way out of the crisis point that our nation's in and I think it's a message that's being embraced beyond this state in a way that it is going to make this vision a reality,” said Miller after hearing about Murkowski’s concession.
The general election is in November.
Contact Rebecca Palsha at rpalsha@ktuu.com
