(Updated 10:55 p.m.)

The race between U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Fairbanks attorney Joe Miller was much closer Tuesday night than most had expected. At 10:55 p.m., Miller was up 51.8 to Murkowski's 48.2.

At Murkowski's headquarters in Midtown Anchorage, one supporter slapped Murkowski on the back and said. "You'll pull it out." Murkowski's spokesman, Steve Wackowski, who was pacing, said he preferred a tight race to the alternative. "If I was still active duty, I'd probably be in Afghanistan, so I'll take this," he said.

Murkowski was nervous too, but she dealt with it differently. "I've decided the best thing is to stay out of the computer room because the results don't come in any quicker when you're in there looking over everybody's shoulder," she said.

When Joe Miller came on the big television around 10:40 p.m., the crowd at the Midtown offices pushed in towards the screen. When Miller finished telling Channel 2 why he was in the lead, Murkowski's supporters drifted away from the television and settled back into circles of fours and fives to continue parsing the results as they came in.

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(Updated 10:17 p.m.) GOP gubernatorial candiate Ralph Samuels conceded fairly early in the evening. With about a third of the vote counted, Samuels was trailing Gov. Sean Parnell and Bill Walker by a hefty margin.

GOP gubernatorial candiate Ralph Samuels conceded fairly early in the evening. With about a third of the vote counted, Samuels was trailing Gov. Sean Parnell and Bill Walker by a hefty margin.

"I called both Bill and Sean and congratulated them on good runs," Samuels said, surrounded at the Egan Center's Election Central by dozens of supporters cheering and waving signs. "I can't catch them, it's just that simple."

Samuels blamed his third place showing on his "unsexy message" - that the state is in for some serious belt-tightening. His campaign was the only one to try to discuss looming budget problems due to declining oil revenues. Samuels talked about having to cut Medicaid and educational spending, perhaps even go back to regional schools in rural areas.

"It was an unsexy message against an incumbent governor," he said.

Samuels said he'ss take a few weeks to break down his campaign operation and then decide how to continue trying to get his message out. He is a vice president for Holland America in Anchorage and also has to get back to work.

But first. "I'm going moose hunting."

Miller beating Murkowski

(Updated 10:04 p.m.) Early returns are in and Fairbanks attorney Joe Miller was leading incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the Republican contest for the U.S. Senate.

Miller held an edge of 51.2 percent to Murkowski's 48.8 percent.

With 159 of 438 precincts reporting, Gov. Sean Parnell appeared to hold a comfortable lead over his two Republican challengers. Parnell had 49.1 percent of the vote to Bill Walker's 34.7 percentand Ralp Samuels' 13.7 percent.

(Updated 9:10 p.m.) On the Democratic ballot, Ethan berkowitz was edging out Hollis French, 47.9 percent to 41.6 percent.

In what was thought to be probably the tighest race of the primary campaign, Anchorage entrepreneur Mead Treadwell was leading Fairbanks lawmaker Jay Ramras 53.1 percent to 31.9 percent.

And on the Democratic side, Diane Benson was outpacing all challengers with 65.1 percent of the vote. Her closet competitor, Jack Powers, had 20.1 percent.