On Tuesday U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski missed a Senate vote on discussing a bill that includes a provision allowing the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The fact that Senate Republicans were able to block debate on the bill without her is beside the point; the bigger issue is that Murkowski will be a rare sight in D.C. between now and Nov. 2.

"The only time we're expecting her to leave Alaska is to go to Ted Stevens' funeral," said Steve Wackowski, Murkowski's campaign spokesman.

Murkowski is running as a write-in candidate against Democrat Scott McAdams and Republican Joe Miller. She was the only member of the Senate not to show up to vote Tuesday.

Mike Brumas, Murkowski's Senate spokesman, confirmed that Murkowski would have voted "nay" on the cloture motion that would have ended a filibuster blocking discussion of the defense bill if she had been in D.C., along with the 40 Republicans present and two Democrats from Arkansas.

"Sen. Murkowski is now in a political fight that will determine the future of Alaska, and she will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to return to Washington for particular votes or other business," Brumas read from a prepared statement.

Wackowski said that in the coming six weeks Murkowski will campaign along Alaska's Railbelt as well as make a swing through the state's rural areas.

"We just have to make sure she's out there talking to Alaskans," he said.

McAdams would support the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" based on the testimony from military leaders, according to his spokeswoman. Miller's spokesman, Randy DeSoto, did not respond to a request for comment.

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