# Alaska Senate race
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [August 27, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607 "2010-08-27T01:03:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 10
### Author:  [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/181 "2010-11-17T18:16:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Miller is now asking for a [hand recount](http://www.adn.com/2010/11/16/1557873/murkowskis-lead-more-than-10000.html)of ALL ballots cast. He says the state’s electronic counting is “suspect”. Apparently it was just peachy in the primary, though. Since he can’t possible recoup 10,000 votes, this is just harassment.
FWIW, his argument is that all of Murkowski’s votes have been counted by hand (since they were write-ins) while all of his have not been. This means that if there were smudges on X% of all ballots cast, the vote counts for Murkowski would include those ballots while those for him might not. This was not true in the primary, where all ballots were counted the same way, and both sides presumably lost the same X% of their ballots.
At the end of the day, he is not going to be senator from Alaska, but his argument is not as silly as might seem. If he can disqualify some of Murkowski’s votes and add a bunch of his own, he could theoretically win.
I think one reason he might be more reluctant to step aside than another politician might be is that he is not a career politician or otherwise prominent personality who needs to keep his reputation clean for another election or endeavor. For Miller, this is his big shot. If he loses this election, he will probably never be heard from again. So he has to go for the Hail Mary where another might take a knee.
---
### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/182 "2010-11-17T18:24:28Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Miller is now asking for a [hand recount](http://www.adn.com/2010/11/16/1557873/murkowskis-lead-more-than-10000.html)of ALL ballots cast. He says the state’s electronic counting is “suspect”. Apparently it was just peachy in the primary, though. Since he can’t possible recoup 10,000 votes, this is just harassment.
Does he have to pay for it?
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/183 "2010-11-17T18:25:27Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#):
>
> FWIW, his argument is that all of Murkowski’s votes have been counted by hand (since they were write-ins) while all of his have not been. This means that if there were smudges on X% of all ballots cast, the vote counts for Murkowski would include those ballots while those for him might not. This was not true in the primary, where all ballots were counted the same way, and both sides presumably lost the same X% of their ballots.
>
> At the end of the day, he is not going to be senator from Alaska, but his argument is not as silly as might seem. If he can disqualify some of Murkowski’s votes and add a bunch of his own, he could theoretically win.
>
> I think one reason he might be more reluctant to step aside than another politician might be is that he is not a career politician or otherwise prominent personality who needs to keep his reputation clean for another election or endeavor. For Miller, this is his big shot. If he loses this election, he will probably never be heard from again. So he has to go for the Hail Mary where another might take a knee.
You’re probably right, and I would have to respect your opinion anyway, as you have a hyphenated name. 😃
---
### Author:  [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/184 "2010-11-17T18:45:40Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> I doubt it. Even Sarah knows a dead fish when she sees one. She’d have nothing to gain by delaying the seating of a Republican senator and wouldn’t want to burn any bridges before she kicks off her 2012 campaign.
But given the relationship Murkowski and Palin have it seems that bridge was reduced to ashes a looooong time ago.
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### Author:  [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/185 "2010-11-17T19:30:13Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#):
>
> I think one reason he might be more reluctant to step aside than another politician might be is that he is not a career politician or otherwise prominent personality who needs to keep his reputation clean for another election or endeavor. For Miller, this is his big shot. If he loses this election, he will probably never be heard from again. So he has to go for the Hail Mary where another might take a knee.
If he loses after raising as big a stink as possible, he’ll be a movement hero and one of the tea party backers will give him a nice cushy lobbyist job. If he concedes, not so much.
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#):
>
> But given the relationship Murkowski and Palin have it seems that bridge was reduced to ashes a looooong time ago.
That bridge led to nowhere, anyway.
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/186 "2010-11-17T19:34:36Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Miller is now asking for a [hand recount](http://www.adn.com/2010/11/16/1557873/murkowskis-lead-more-than-10000.html)of ALL ballots cast. He says the state’s electronic counting is “suspect”. Apparently it was just peachy in the primary, though. Since he can’t possible recoup 10,000 votes, this is just harassment.
How’s that Dieboldy, Promise-to-deliver-electronic-votes-to-the-Republicansy thing working out for them?
---
### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/187 "2010-11-17T19:44:45Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#):
>
> But given the relationship Murkowski and Palin have it seems that bridge was reduced to ashes a looooong time ago.
Not so much that bridge, it may not endear her to Republicans nationwide if she persists in an effort to keep Murkowski from being seated.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/188 "2010-11-17T20:40:19Z")
For what it’s worth, [AP has now called the race for Murkowski](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sectionfronts/politics/index.html?tid=postpolitics?wpisrc=nl_natlalert).
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/189 "2010-11-17T22:17:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> FWIW, his argument is that all of Murkowski’s votes have been counted by hand (since they were write-ins) while all of his have not been. This means that if there were smudges on X% of all ballots cast, the vote counts for Murkowski would include those ballots while those for him might not. This was not true in the primary, where all ballots were counted the same way, and both sides presumably lost the same X% of their ballots.
So, presumably the counting machines kept a tally of the number of ballots that were smudged or otherwise spoiled. Does anyone know that number, and is it enough that it could even conceivably tip the race to Miller?
---
### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/190 "2010-11-17T22:51:25Z")
It would seem to me that a hand count could end up eliminating more Miller votes than adding new ones. If Murkpwski is smart, her people will start to challenge any machine counted ballots with stray marks or incomplete erasures.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/191 "2010-11-17T23:39:53Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#):
>
> If Murkpwski is smart, her people will start to challenge any machine counted ballots with stray marks or incomplete erasures.
I am sorry but we cannot accept this post as valid.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/192 "2010-11-18T00:24:06Z")
What did I misspell?
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### Author:  [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/193 "2010-11-18T01:09:48Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> I doubt it. Even Sarah knows a dead fish when she sees one. She’d have nothing to gain by delaying the seating of a Republican senator and wouldn’t want to burn any bridges before she kicks off her 2012 campaign.
Oh, I know. I’m just pointing out all the delightful ways the Republican Party’s firing squad would look so much nicer in a circular formation.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/194 "2010-11-18T01:26:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> What did I misspell?
Miller. You only got the first letter correct.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2010, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/195 "2010-11-18T05:55:59Z")
[First write in win since 1954](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ALASKA_SENATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-17-23-06-21), too!
---
### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2010, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/196 "2010-11-18T11:31:41Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#):
>
> Does he have to pay for it?
Yes, Alaska only pays if the difference is less than .5 of a percentage point. Also, [he won’t get a hand recount](http://www.adn.com/2010/11/17/1560285/murkowski-proclaims-herself-the.html).
> [@](#):
>
> But [Elections Director Gail] Fenumiai said Wednesday that state does not grant recounts entirely by hand. A traditional recount using optical scan equipment costs about $15,000, she said, and is only paid for by the state if a candidate is within .5 percent of winning.
Of course, I would assume that they’d have to recount all the write-ins as well, which would drag it out for a bit. I guess it all depends on how much of a jerk Miller desires to be.
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### Author:  [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/197 "2010-11-18T18:31:32Z")
May I interrupt the partisanship and ask an actual question: How did Murkowski win as a write-in candidate who lost her own primary (as an incumbent, no less)?
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### Author:  [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/198 "2010-11-18T18:35:57Z")
Primaries are intra-party elections, have low turnout and tend to be dominated by hard-core partisans, in this case Tea Partiers. General elections are open to both parties and feature a more moderate electorate generally.
Same story as Joe Lieberman, in that respect.
That plus Miller himself was somewhat exposed as a flawed candidate between the primary and the election.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/199 "2010-11-18T19:30:57Z")
Is there any possibility that she will decide to caucus with the Dems?
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### Author:  [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/200 "2010-11-18T19:37:10Z")
I believe she’s already said she won’t. And doing so would not help her chances in 2016.
But that’s probably one reason the Republican leadership has not gone all out to help Miller (e.g. their ads in support of his candidacy focused on attacking the Democrat in the race). They don’t want to alienate their current and future colleague Murkowski.
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