It started in July when Sen. Lisa Murkowski objected to Sen. Mark Begich including her name on a press release and citing her in a radio ad. It intensified in August, when Murkowski sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding the Democrat refrain from mentioning her in commercials touting their bipartisan work. And it grew nasty after Begich said her objection was all about how she appeared in a photo, something the Republican said “belittled” her.
In an interview with POLITICO, Begich roundly dismissed Murkowski’s moves as politically motivated and contended they were aimed squarely at pleasing the national GOP at the expense of Alaskans. If Begich loses to Sullivan next week, Alaska would give up a coveted seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, something Begich said Murkowski was putting “at risk” by “her actions.”
“I think she is doing what the Republican national party wants her to do — and that is get in there and drag this guy across the line because he can’t do it himself,” said Begich, who is poised to gain subcommittee chairmanships in a Democratic majority. “I think in Lisa’s case, she’s made a political calculation, not necessarily an Alaskan-calculated decision.”
Murkowski responded in an email with this: “I am offended that Mark suggests that I simply do what I am told. I can think for myself, and I demonstrate that every day.”
“It is Mark who keeps trying to latch onto me,” said Murkowski, who believes the Begich ads falsely imply she’s endorsing him in the race. “The truth is Mark can’t run on his own record, so he is trying to run on mine.” See Full Story at Politico.com
image credit politico.com
