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BY JOSH KRAUSHAAR
If Sarah Palin wants to run for the Senate, a race against Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in 2010 might give her a golden opportunity to win.
A newly released poll shows that Palin would trounce Murkowski if she challenged her in a primary. The poll, commissioned by the Daily Kos, shows Palin leading Murkowski by 24 points, 55 to 31 percent, in a hypothetical primary matchup.
Palin still has sky-high approval ratings in Alaska: 60 percent of respondents said they view Palin favorably, while 38 percent view her unfavorably. A 51 percent majority of Alaskans said they viewed Murkowski favorably, while 43 percent viewed her unfavorably.
Palin has given little hint of her future intentions, but she has experience taking on the Murkowski family. She was elected governor of Alaska by handily defeating Lisa Murkowski’s father, then-Gov. Frank Murkowski, in the Republican primary. The governor took criticism in the campaign for (among other things) appointing his daughter to his Senate seat when he was elected.
For her part, Lisa Murkowski is preparing for the fight. She told Politico’s Manu Raju earlier this month that Palin would face a “tough election” if she jumped in the race. And Murkowski cited her seniority and service as the ranking Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to dissuade Palin from running.
“If she were to kind of move me over, if you will, to run for national office again at the expense at this seniority that’s been built, I don’t know if Alaskans would look too favorably on that,” Murkowski said.
The poll also tested several general election matchups, including a Senate rematch of the 2006 gubernatorial race between Palin and Democrat Tony Knowles. Palin would defeat Knowles by 14 points, 53 to 39 percent.
The poll, conducted by Research 2000, surveyed 600 likely voters between December 15-17. It has a four percent margin of error.
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don't underestimate Palin
Palin has consistently been underestimated, and it would be interesting to see how she fares in an all-out, no-holds-barred political contest between herself and another female candidate! Murkowski has a murky political history, and it doesn't appear as though Alaskans have missed the (possibly tawdry) connection she has to her father's political problems. Palin continues to enjoy a favorable (and very strong) conservative, right-wing base of support. I hope she can enlarge and strenghten it. She's smart, and she will learn much, and eventually will become a very viable Presidential candidate.
Sarah Palin in 2012!
I think that Palin will make a run for the US Senate in 2010 and will win giving her the national platform that she needs to make a run for the presidency in 2012. I will be voting for Sarah in 2012 and I believe that she will defeat B. Hussein Obama!!
This is local news?
Selective local news, I would call it. The Senate race in Alaska???
On the other hand, the Pilot put a short sidebar article in the front section last week about the arson at Sarah Palin's church in Wasilla. The entrance was set ablaze with an accelerant while there were people inside, including children, and the Pilot gave this a "yawn out" place in the paper.
I think it will be concluded that this was a hate crime. The people who ran their mouths and inflamed other people (the lunatics) during the election can conclude that they are partially responsible!
Watch out Sarah
Caroline Schlossberg may try to move to Alaska and want to be given the senate seat if NY governor does not pull through. See only democrats, with media support, can be given an office job and not be ridiculed unlike you were by the media and liberals because you were educated and an experienced politician. Go ahead Pilot hold this comment for ever.