Murkowski Defends Write-in Senate Bid

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says her write-in effort to re-enter the race to retain her seat in the Senate isn't undermining the Republican Party.

Speaking in an interview Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," Murkowski said she received countless phone calls, e-mails and faxes urging her to stay in the contest.

In mounting the write-in bid, she says she's "listening to my constituents" and is "going to give them a choice."

Murkowski says that suggestions by the GOP's nominee, Joe Miller, to do away with Medicare, Social Security and the Education Department are too radical for most Alaskans.

She acknowledges, however, that a write-in campaign is going to be tough.