Maneuvering Murkowski

Sen. Lisa Murkowski has the right to continue fighting for her seat in the November election.  

Even though she lost the Republican primary to Joe Miller, a challenger backed by the Tea Party and, perhaps more pointedly, by Sarah Palin, the incumbent is entitled to put her popularity to the test among Alaskan voters in the general election.

{mosads}Acknowledging this, however, is different from saying a stubborn politician who refuses to quit is choosing his or her most fitting course of action.

Democrats saw the distinction four years ago between a right and what is right when Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) ran as an Independent after being ousted in the primary by Ned Lamont. Likewise, Florida’s Gov. Charlie Crist had the right to stay in the race after it became clear this April that Marco Rubio would get the nod from GOP primary voters.

Republicans are entitled to feel aggrieved about Murkowski’s decision. She was beaten fair and square, and it is proper that the GOP leadership and the National Republican Senatorial Committee should transfer their allegiance 100 percent to Miller.

Murkowski’s leadership colleagues implored her not to put self ahead of party, not to pursue an independent write-in campaign. They knew, as she must, that although write-in campaigns rarely succeeded — Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) was the last senator to pull off the maneuver — they can split votes. It could hand the Alaska seat to the Democrats and wreck GOP hopes of retaking the upper chamber.

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), second in command of the party in the upper chamber, captured GOP frustration, saying: “I am bothered by anything that makes it less likely that we can elect a Republican, especially in a state where we have every hope of electing one.”

Murkowski is staying away from the Senate this week, missing a committee hearing and the Tuesday lunch. Staying at home to gin up votes may be the best use of her time, although skipping work may not be the best way of campaigning for a new contract.

But Murkowski’s absence allowed the GOP leadership to avoid deciding whether to bar her from the party’s lunch, although no time was lost stripping her of her top slot on the Energy panel.

Republican leaders have to consider the possibility that Murkowski might win. If she did, then what? Would she caucus with the Republicans? Probably, although she would presumably not get a gavel, as Lieberman did. Or would her defiance now keep her in the wilderness? Grudges can last a long time in politics, but party leaders don’t usually let them get in the way of power.

Such questions are moot if a GOP takeover has slipped beyond reach. There will be plenty of bitterness within the party if Murkowski has pushed it there.