Faced with a primary battle against a popular incumbent, it might make sense for a conservative candidate to take advantage of connections to Alaska's most famous conservative. So when you hear that Joe Miller, a Fairbanks attorney who's running against Sen. Lisa Murkowski, sent out a press release Monday announcing Todd Palin will make an appearance at a Miller For Senate event Friday in Wasilla, it might seem reasonable to surmise that Miller could be angling for former governor Sarah Palin's public seal of approval.

But Miller, who is an advocate for limited government, says it's not about big names or endorsements.

"Todd's a longtime friend," Miller said. "He stands for many of the same principles." Miller takes issues with Murkowski's positions and voting record, which he says promote big government and an unsustainable national debt load that will be a burden on generations to come.

"We just have completely different views," he said of Alaska's senior senator.

As far as whether Todd Palin's appearance at Friday's fundraiser means Miller will be getting an endorsement from the former governor herself, Miller wouldn't say -- and, he said, Palin isn't the point. (Last year Palin announced she would raise money for Murkowski's re-election bid.)

"This is about a U.S. Senate seat," he said. "It's not about Sarah Palin and Lisa Murkowski." What the media will make of the situation, Miller said, is beyond his control.

Why, then, send out a press release specifically touting the fact that the former "first dude" will be on hand to offer his support? (Miller also features a testimonial of support from Todd Palin on his campaign website.)

Miller said Friday's event isn't supposed to be about Todd Palin or any endorsement that may or may not be forthcoming -- it's about raising money and awareness and signing up volunteers who share his "rugged individualist values."

"Those that agree with the message, we will welcome those endorsements," Miller said.

www.joemiller.us screenshot

Contact Maia Nolan at maia(at)alaskadispatch.com.