Miller shows off national endorsements, asks Murkowski to endorse him

Joe Miller, who has already been endorsed by national politicians like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and South Carolina's U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, has added U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell, John McCain, and John Cornyn (from Kentucky, Arizona, and Texas, respectively) to his list of supporters.

But why the emphasis on national politicians? This is a race about Alaska, right?

The reason is that Miller may still have to deal with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski as a write-in candidate or (less likely) as a Libertarian. By emphasizing the support of prominent Republicans, the Miller campaign is reminding Republican and Independent voters that they beat Murkowski in the GOP primary and Miller (and no one else) is the chosen representative of the party. Head her off at the pass, so to speak.

"It's just validating the idea that wherever you are in the U.S., once the primary has been held that's the decision that's been made," said Randy DeSoto, Miller's spokesman.

"When Joe Miller earned the votes of Republican primary voters in Alaska, he earned my full support for his campaign to represent Alaskans in the U.S. Senate," McConnell said in the press release.

And Politico reported that the National Republican Senatorial Committee's decision to send a senior strategist to Alaska to assist Miller's campaign was a signal to Murkowski that the national party is fully committed to Miller.

DeSoto also said Miller has also been endorsed by U.S. Sen. John Thune and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (South Dakota and Minnesota.)

But the campaign of Miller's opponent, Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams, takes issue with the parade of big Republican names.

"I do think this is indicative of Miller's campaign in general," said McAdams spokeswoman Heather Handyside. "Our campaign is all about Alaskans, and we don't want to be diverted from our focus by courting national endorsements."

The race between McAdams and Miller should be an interesting one. The National Republican Senatorial Committee is sending $212,000 north to help Miller, while the McAdams camp released its first general election radio ad Thursday afternoon. A spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said they don't discuss their spending strategies with reporters.

In the press release that announced his new endorsements, Miller addressed Murkowski directly:

"I know there are many in our party who supported Senator Murkowski, and I want to acknowledge her service to our state," Miller said. "I hope that the Senator will join her colleagues in endorsing me, and ensure that America's loyal opposition to the President's agenda will have a voice in the United States Senate from Alaska."

Contact Joshua Saul at jsaul(at)alaskadispatch.com.