Tea Party Group Backs Murkowski Foe
The Tea Party Express, fresh off wins in 3 GOP nominating contests, is targeting another GOP incumbent by backing AK attorney Joe Miller (R) over Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R).
"Lisa Murkowski has become part of the problem in Washington. Her support for record deficit spending, and her flip-flopping on whether to repeal Obamacare are just 2 of the many issues in which she has broken trust with the citizens she was elected to represent," Tea Party Express political director Bryan Shroyer said in a statement on Wednesday.
The group promised to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars against Murkowski, and for Miller, before the Aug. 24 primary. The race will be the Tea Party Express' top priority, according to a release announcing the endorsement.
It's another big endorsement for Miller, a little-known Fairbanks attorney who has run for office just once before, a losing bid for state representative in '04. He's also been endorsed by ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R), who remains popular in her home state, and he held a fundraiser in Wasilla with Todd Palin earlier this year.
Murkowski is the second GOP incumbent the group has come out against, after opposing Sen. Bob Bennett's (R-UT) renomination earlier this year. Last month, Bennett lost his bid for a fourth term when he finished third at the state GOP convention.
The Tea Party Express, which runs the Our Country Deserves Better PAC, also backed ex-NV Assemb. Sharron Angle (R), spending more than $500K on late ads as she cruised to a surprisingly big win in the Silver State's primary last week. They also endorsed KY nominee Rand Paul and ex-FL House Speaker Marco Rubio (R), who faces no major opposition in the Aug. 24 primary after Gov. Charlie Crist (I) bolted the party.
The group is backing attorney Mike Lee (R) in his primary race for Bennett's seat.
Wow the Pac 10 really improved their national prestige with their expansion. Colorado and Utah - who's next? Northern Arizona University?