Murkowski: Palin Couldn't Cut It as Prez

Palin lacks leadership qualities, 'intellectual curiosity,' says senator
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 16, 2010 2:57 AM CST
Updated Nov 16, 2010 5:58 AM CST

Sen. Lisa Murkowski appears bound for victory as a write-in candidate in Alaska ... and her feud with Sarah Palin appears certain to continue. Murkowski—who has taken the lead over Palin-backed Tea Party candidate Joe Miller with more than 10,000 write-in ballots still to be counted—says the results show that most Alaskans wouldn't pass the Tea Party "purity test." Murkowski tells Katie Couric on CBS News that while it may be tricky working with the Republican establishment who supported Miller, she plans to work for compromise in the Senate.

"I am not one of those who wants Obama to fail," she said. "If he does well, that means the country's doing well." Murkowski played down talk of bad blood between her and Palin, but declared that her fellow Alaskan is not presidential material. "I just do not think that she has those leadership qualities, that intellectual curiosity, that allows for building good and great policies," she said. "You know, she was my governor for two years. And I don't think that she enjoyed governing." (More Alaska Senate race stories.)

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