Murkowski to Make a Decision by Friday

JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who lsot the GOP primary to Joe Miller last month, says she'll decide by Friday whether to mount a write-in candidacy.

If she stays in the Senate race, a write-in run is her only option.

The Libertarian candidate recently said he won't step aside to clear a spot on that party's ticket. And Murkowski said in a statement she couldn't have sought the Libertarian nomination in good conscience, anyway.

Although Murkowski says she believes the Tea Party Express "hijacked" the Alaska Republican Party, she said she won't quit the GOP.

Tea Party Express ran ads supporting Miller and distorting Murkowski's position on federal healthcare legislation. She called the California-based organization an "outside extremist group."