Has Alaska's Republican Party lost its sense of direction?

Frontiersman editorial staff

So, you're an Alaska Republican, sure. But what flavor are you -- Republican, Moderate Republican, Conservative Republican, Christian Republican or Right Wing Republican. It's getting so you can't judge a conservative by his party, anymore.

In a Thursday discussion with Mike Miller, one of three Republican challengers for Senator Lisa Murkowski's U.S. Senate seat, Miller described himself as the "conservative" in the race. He said Murkowski stands too close to Tony Knowles on important issues to beat Knowles in November's general election. Miller said, by contrast, he differs from Knowles on those important issues. Of course, Knowles has said he's in favor of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration, and so is Murkowski, and so is Miller. Some of the issues Miller did point out as sticking points were things like abortion rights and taxes.

Since Miller, a longtime Alaska politician, entered the race, questions have been raised about a Republican party that seems more fragmented now than in recent memory. The Republican Moderates believe the current administration is too conservative, while others, like Miller feel the party has abandoned some of its core conservative values. What does all this mean?

It's clear that Gov. Frank Murkowski's administration has gone its own way, alienating some of the party faithful, and creating a vulnerable U.S. Senate seat by appointing his own daughter to fill the vacancy created by Murkowski's gubernatorial win. Lisa Murkowski now faces an uphill battle against charges of nepotism, whether she deserves it or not.

Now that Miller has thrown his hat into the ring, he forces Murkowski to expend a little more energy, and a little more money, during the primaries, and a tough primary campaign could hinder Murkowski's chances against Knowles even further. Miller says he's convinced he can defeat Murkowski in the primary, but she's polling nearly 40 percent higher than Miller now, and it's difficult to imagine him overtaking her on a limited budget and following his late entry into the race.

Knowles was going to be a tough candidate for the Republicans to defeat in any case, but a fractured GOP can only strengthen his position.