Palin Rips Murkowski during Miller Rally
Sarah Palin took aim at U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski as she sought to rally Alaskans Thursday for Murkowski's beleaguered GOP rival, Joe Miller.
Palin avoided using Murkowski's name in addressing the hundreds of people gathered in Anchorage for a "Change D.C." rally but it was clear who she meant. In describing Miller's two chief rivals in the race, she said one is an "out of touch liberal" and the other was mayor of Sitka. The latter is Democrat Scott McAdams.
"Let's send Joe Miller to the United States Senate to shake it up," she called out to cheers, adding later: "Let's restore America with honor."
Palin, who gave Miller a peck on the cheek after introducing him, was lending her star-power to a candidate who's seeking to overcome a series of campaign bumps. In recent weeks, Miller has acknowledged his family received some of the types of government payments he now questions as a limited-government candidate. This week, records released under court order, after news organizations filed suit, showed Miller had admitted to lying about improperly using government computers for political purposes while a borough attorney in 2008. He was disciplined and took responsibility for what his superior considered an isolated incident.
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A number of other conservatives, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint; and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., offered their support for Miller in videos.
Palin singled out Murkowski, in particular, as trying to distract voters' attention by questioning Miller's record and honor to avoid talking about the issues facing the state and nation and the need to change the status quo in Washington.
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Murkowski mounted her run after losing the Republican primary to Miller. She, Miller and Democrat Scott McAdams are currently locked in a heated race.
A Murkowski spokesman referred a reporter to a statement Murkowski released before the rally, in which Murkowski said Miller "knows that he has lost the confidence of Alaskan voters."
During a debate Wednesday night, Murkowski told a statewide audience she wouldn't support a Palin run for president at this time.
Palin's presidential aspirations have continued to be a subject of national intrigue. On "Entertainment Tonight" Thursday, Palin said she would be willing to run for the White House "if there's nobody else to do it."
But Karl Rove, the Republican guru that was a key force behind the presidency of George W. Bush, cast doubt on Palin's qualifications, saying she lacked the "gravitas" for the office.
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"There are high standards that the American people have for [the presidency] and they require a certain level of gravitas, and they want to look at the candidate and say 'that candidate is doing things that gives me confidence that they are up to the most demanding job in the world,'" Rove told UK daily The Telegraph Wednesday.
"With all due candor, appearing on your own reality show on the Discovery Channel, I am not certain how that fits in the American calculus of 'that helps me see you in the Oval Office," Rove said. He took particular issue with a quote from Palin featured in the promotional clip of her new show in which she says, "I'd rather be doing this than in some stuffy old political office."