(CNN) - Incumbent Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who launched a write-in campaign for re-election after losing the Republican primary, believes the race in Alaska will be closer to resolution by the end of this weekend but added that her opponent, Tea Party-backed Republican Joe Miller, is working to "disenfranchise" voters.
Miller vote-count observers are challenging ballots that misspell the senator's name – or, in some cases, spell it correctly but aren't written clearly.
"When you make challenges like this, you are working to disenfranchise that voter," Murkowski said on CNN's John King, USA. "It is clear what that voter's intent was. The intent was to vote for Lisa Murkowski."
Miller filed a lawsuit earlier this week to ensure a complete audit of all ballots counted, but Murkowski remains confident and critical of her challenger.
"Miller doesn't know what to do with the fact that people actually did what they were supposed to do," Murkowski told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. "What we're seeing now, I believe, quite honestly are acts of desperation."
She also addressed earlier comments by South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, who supported Miller. DeMint said he and Murkowski will have "some making up to do" if she returns to the Senate.
"He has suggested that he's got some making up to do," Murkowski said. "I'll let him make that first move."
From CNN Politics
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This shows that, just like everyone else, the "idealist" Tea Party members will do whatever it takes to gain and keep power. They care no more about the people they represent than any other politician, and they will get their hands just as dirty, just as quickly.
I'm not fond of either of these two, but Murkowski seems to be the lesser of two evils. Miller is too extreme and I'd rather not have him in the US Senate.
Latest reports from Alaska media indicate Miller's watchdogs are challenging fewer ballots. They're going through the motions, but it's over. Murkowski has won a historic write-in race. This could probably only occur in a small population state, but it's still an impressive feat.
You know, I don't have much sympathy for Ms. Murkowski. The Republicans did the same thing in Florida for the 2000 presidential election.
I think it's hilarious that GOPers act so indignant when the same tactics they use on the Democrats are used on themselves.
You would think that by now they would be smart enough to realize that what goes around comes around.
Murkowski has disenfranchised voters ever since she has been in office.
It's sad that a grown man doesn't know when to quit. Ask your mentor yellow teeth. She knows what quitting is all about except that you are NOT going become a millionaire like she has.
Some of the ballots that "his people" are challenging have the correct spelling of LM's name and the oval is penciled in. What is wrong with this picture? Oh yes, another Alaskan (Kansas really) loser.
Teabuggers are just old racist hypocrites that are stubborn and uneducated who want their way regardless. I hate them!
You should have voted for the democrat. MUst all have a brain freeze in Alaska.
Doesn't miller want less fed government in states? Why is he trying to file a suit in fed court? This is what is so hypocrital. I don't want BIG government unless it's for my own gain. Sorry, yellow teeth it ain't gonna happen from what I just heard.
they devour their own .\these repos. Palin an illerate has a higher populariety rating amoung the repos than the president. Yup you can now see just how stupid and uninformed the repos are. They have spent more time bashing pelosi and the president than doing any work at all. Then they find some rag like palin who can't even speak a discernable sentance and think she is political material she couldn't handel alaska which hardly has any people and is on the dole from the pipeline. So much for being free spirite maverics. They get their yearly pay cut from big business. Repos are poster kids for better education in this country.
Hard to disagree Murkowski on this one. If the intent is clear, then you shouldn't disenfranchise the voter.
The Miller guy should concede to Ms. Murkowski instead of challenging the write-in vote counting with baseless arguments. He comes across as power hungry idiot. Give up guy, you lost even if you are backed by stupid Palen (did I spell it right?).
If this freak Lisa wins we should give Alaska back to Russia.
Whatever "Support from decent Americans" the Tea Party thinks it has, is reversing at high speed if the reports are correct. I don't think I've heard of a more disgusting and outrageously "in broad daylight" public attempt to openly "overturn the will of the American Peoples will". The absolute Gall of these self-righteous people is beyond belief.
Miller was a joke to start off with, he is now making himself look, beand prove that everyone is right and he loses.
I gather at one stage He even challenged Murkowski Lisa ( all correctly spelt) he should look how his name appeared on the ballot paper!!
I dont know any reasonable American who would bother about a smudged ballot, or Murcowskee, Morkoski the permutations are endless, and by the way forget intent,look up the register of electors in Alaska and if there is not a Murcowski or Morkoski I think its pretty clear who the vote should go to. By the way as I understand it most states require you to have a minimum number of supporters to even be a write in candidate.
Regards,
Hodgson.
In 2004, San Diego, California City Councilwoman Donna Frye was a write-in candidate for Mayor. She would have won but her opponent had any write-in vote thrown out that misspelled her name "Fry" or correctly spelled her name but didn't check the bubble.
It's ironic that Repubs stole the 2000 election with technicalities aided by a corrupt secretary of state. Now, it's fascist Repub vs. regular oil-loving Repub, with the fascist Repub trying the same voter disenfranchisement bit.
Typical, Miller doesn't like the results so he is trying to change the results to be in his favor. Seems to be a republican thing to do, Coleman in MN Bush vs Gore and those are just the ones I can remember I am sure there are more. Miller stop, concede and try to save what is left of your dignty.
I hope Senator Lisa Murkowski wins re-election..
While I don't disagree with most of what she says here, I would think the people of Alaska should look into changing the current law. You can't have a law that says the name must be spelled exactly, then on a whim decide to ignore that law when put to the test? If you want voter intent, then write it like that. Probably wouldn't hurt if people took the primary elections more seriously as well... none of this would probably be happening.
The type of actions Miller is taking gives the country an idea of the mind set of tea bags. They are worst then their republican counterparts. Most republicans when they lose accept that fact. But this tea bag does not want to follow the will of the people he wants to follow his will. I really think the people of Alaska had not idea someone like him would win the nomination, so like a lot of Democrats (which is the only reason the republicans won anything) stayed home. Realizing their mistake they had a chance to correct it and write in a vote for Lisa. I hope this crooked action Miller, which has been proved before, sinks into oblivion and we never hear from his type again.
Murkooksi's Union thugs skewed the election results to maintain their millions of earmarks for the oil industry, just watch the videos...
Murkowski is like Sonny Bono's wife – they have no business being in the Senate initially placed their through nepotism and kept there by status quo!
"Miller vote-count observers are challenging ballots that misspell the senator's name – or, in some cases, spell it correctly but aren't written clearly." It is unbelievable that someone who is running for a public office in AMERICA would use such unAMERICAN tactics to try to win the election. Voter intent is a founding principle of democratic elections. This on top of his gestapo moves against the free press are something you would see in Iran, not the USA. Joe Miller's attempt to steal the election should disqualify him to serve any political office! What a complete jerk.
So the Democrats were crybabies and poor losers who tried to STEAL the election from Bush in 2000 and the Republicans were just OUTRAGED by all the legal challenges and lawsuits. They would never try such underhanded tactics because they respect the voter and democracy.
This is so damn funny to watch the morally superior republicans engage in the exact same behavior. I guess they have forgot that it is not enough to simply claim moral superiority. They actually have to do it when they get the chance. FOX NEWS?????? Where are all the biased attacks that you levelled at Gore in 2000? Shouldn't you be saying the same thing about Miller? Fair and Balanced????? Hello??
I think lisa should lose all of her committee seats and be left out in the cold she is a RINO let her form her own bloc of fellow doo doo like people right on demint ya' the man