Murkowski: A Frontrunner Who's Not on the Ballot

Lisa Murkowski isn’t on the ballot in Alaska, but she sure looks like the frontrunner—and that’s how she’s being treated, according to the New York Times. Though reliable polls are hard to find in the sparsely-populated state, Alaskan analysts say the incumbent has a strong chance. Her opponents clearly think so; in a recent debate, Scott McAdams and Joe Miller spent much of their time attacking Murkowski, even though she wasn’t there.

“Maybe we ought to debate Lisa for the rest of the night,” McAdams quipped at one point. Later, when the candidates were supposed to question each other, Miller said, “Scott, I’m tempted to just ask about questions Lisa.” Miller’s position on the ballot may still make him the favorite, but the handcuffed reporter incident hurt him, as did his recent admission that he was disciplined for an ethics breach while working as a Fairbanks North Star Borough lawyer. (More Lisa Murkowski stories.)