Supporters push Lisa Murkowski to remain on Alaska ballot

Supporters aren't allowing Sen. Lisa Murkowski to give up her congressional career just yet, even though the senator appears ready to call it quits.

Following her defeat in Alaska's GOP primary last week, Murkowski has been exploring a third-party or write-in candidacy for the seat she currently holds.

Murkowski met with Alaska Libertarian party leaders this week and indicated that she would be open to replacing the current Libertarian senate candidate, David Haase, on the ballot, according to multiple media reports.

But that meeting wasn't Murkowski's idea.

Murkowski has openly expressed her reluctance about continuing with a campaign for Senate.

As the Associated Press has reported:

She met briefly Tuesday with the Libertarian candidate David Haase after friends of hers — without her direction, she said — approached his party, asking if the Libertarians would consider a Murkowski candidacy... She said she was not "prepared nor interested" in talking with the Libertarian board... however, she indicated she'd be willing to listen to what Haase had to say "but that's the extent of my interest at this point in time. So I did."

Haase, when interviewed by KTUU in Alaska, didn't try to conceal Murkowski's reluctance about mounting a Libertarian run for the seat. "I think her supporters, more or less, put her into this meeting with me," Haase said. "I couldn't say that Lisa sought out to talk to me, but we had a very nice conversation."

Murkowski last week suffered a stunning defeat by tea party candidate Joe Miller, despite Murkowski's strong advantages in fundraising, experience and statewide name recognition.

Murkowski described the write-in option as "high risk" in her interview with the AP.

(Photo: AP/Dan Joling)