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Palin's Takedown of Murkowskis Is Complete

Murkowski-Palin feud goes back many years

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 2, 2010 8:58 AM CDT

(Newser) – Back in 2002, a certain mayor of Wasilla interviewed with Alaskan Gov. Frank Murkowski to fill the Senate seat he had vacated to run for governor. His ultimate pick? Daughter Lisa Murkowski, not Sarah Palin. Four years later, Palin walloped the elder Murkowski by a 30-point margin in the gubernatorial primary, beginning a takedown of the Murkowski political dynasty that culminated this week in Lisa Murkowski's shocking loss to a Palin-backed Tea Party candidate. The New York Times examines the feud.

The two women, sharply divided on the issues—particularly abortion—never interacted except when brought together by government business, insiders say. “I don’t understand it,” says a top adviser to both women. “The back-and-forths have been all out in the open." Normally staid, Lisa Murkowski slammed Palin's resignation from the office she swiped from the elder Murkowskl as a decision "to abandon Alaska." But it's Palin who got the last laugh, tweeting, "Thank you for your service, Sen. Murkowski," while gloating, in another tweet, "Do you believe in miracles?!"

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Then-Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski holds a press conference at the Hall of the States in Washington, DC, 2006. (Getty Images)

Then-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, left, stands in the main foyer of the governor's mansion with Sen Lisa Murkowski, March 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Miller)

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I don’t understand it. The back-and-forths have been all out in the open. I don’t know what drives them. - John Bitney, a former Palin adviser
who managed Murkowski's campaign

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Palin's Takedown of Murkowskis Is Complete