Skip to main content
Tags: US | Alaska | Senate | Tea | Party | Endorsement

Tea Party Express in Alaska Endorses Joe Miller

Wednesday, 16 June 2010 07:31 PM EDT

A national tea party group on Wednesday endorsed Alaska Republican Joe Miller, hoping to give the longshot candidate a boost in his primary challenge to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

The Tea Party Express said it's willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to help Miller, a Fairbanks attorney and self-styled "constitutional conservative" who is making his first statewide run for public office.

The activist organization gave Miller a closer look after Sarah Palin endorsed him earlier this month, Tea Party Express spokesman Levi Russell said.

Palin, a former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, is a darling of the broader tea party movement, which advocates less government, fiscal restraint and personal freedoms.

Russell said his group felt it important to get involved in the Senate race to try to level the playing field with Murkowski, the better-known, better-financed incumbent. The Tea Party Express claims about 375,000 members nationwide, with about 1,000 in Alaska, Russell said.

"Maybe a lot of voters don't know who Joe Miller is and don't feel he can win," Russell said. "We want voters to take a second look."

Jerry McBeath, a political science professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said the group's involvement should make the August primary more competitive, but he believes Murkowski will still win.

Murkowski, Alaska's senior senator, has worked her way up the Senate hierarchy and will campaign on what's she done and can do from her position, he said.

Miller's a good candidate, he said, but "I don't think this will do anything more (than) chip a few points away from her."

Miller, in a message on Twitter, said that he was "deeply humbled and honored" by the endorsement.

Murkowski campaign spokesman Steve Wackowski said the senator's conservative credentials are clear. He cited her opposition to federal efforts to overhaul health insurance, "A" ratings from the National Rifle Association, opposition to raising the debt limit and repeated votes to freeze non-defense discretionary spending.

© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Politics
A national tea party group on Wednesday endorsed Alaska Republican Joe Miller, hoping to give the longshot candidate a boost in his primary challenge to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.The Tea Party Express said it's willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to help...
US,Alaska,Senate,Tea,Party,Endorsement
326
2010-31-16
Wednesday, 16 June 2010 07:31 PM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the NewsmaxTV App
Get the NewsmaxTV App for iOS Get the NewsmaxTV App for Android Scan QR code to get the NewsmaxTV App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved