Bill Walker is considering running for governor as a write-in candidate, he said Thursday. Walker, who ran in the Republican primary, lost to incumbent Gov. Sean Parnell on Tuesday, but still came in second with about 34 percent of the vote, better than many expected. He hasn't made a final decision, he said, but is considering "all options," of which a write-in campaign is one.

He'll make up his mind by Friday, or Monday at the latest. "Whatever I decide, it will be in Alaska's best interest," he said.

Although she hasn't said anything to this effect, rumors also abound that Sen. Lisa Murkowski might try a write-in effort if Miller ends up winning the U.S. Senate primary after the absentee ballots are counted.

"Isn't this interesting? It's almost as if the primary didn't happen," local pollster David Dittman said.

That Walker got 34 percent of the vote on Tuesday was something of a surprise. Many had predicted that Ralph Samuels, who was more of the Republican establishment candidate, would do better than he did. Samuels came in third with about 14 percent.

Ethan Berkowitz, who won the Democratic primary, said he's talked to Walker about Walker's role in his administration should Berkowitz win against Parnell in the general election. "I'd be honored to have Bill Walker be part of my cabinet," he said. "He'd have a very prominent role in negotiating the gas line." Whatever he decides to do, Berkowitz said, Walker will elevate the debate.

Walker said Berkowitz's offer isn't factoring into his decision.

Write-in candidates haven't had a great history in Alaska. Earnest Gruening, former Democratic territorial governor turned senator, tried it after he lost to Mike Gravel in the 1968 Democratic primary. Gruening came in third in that race, only getting 14,118 votes to the 36,527 landed by Gravel, who ended up winning in the general.

Supporters of Wally Hickel undertook a write-in effort to get him on the ballot after Hickel lost in the 1986 Republican primary to Arliss Sturgulewski. Hickel disavowed the write-in effort and backed Sturgulewski, but she still lost by about 3 points to Democrat Steve Cowper.

Robin Taylor, who was a write-in candidate in 1998, came in second to Tony Knowles. Taylor did well in that race after the Republican Party disavowed its candidate John Lindauer after Lindauer repeatedly lied about getting his campaign money from his wealthy Chicago wife, which, as they say, is another story.

Even though there hasn't been much success here with write-ins, Dittman doesn't think that it's automatically a losing proposition, if it's done early enough and strongly enough and not just as a means to placate supporters.

"It could be effective in this climate," he said.

Contact Amanda Coyne at amanda(at)alaskadispatch.com