BAKED ALASKA – AT 10:06 A.M. ET:  Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who lost the GOP primary to keep her seat recently, has announced that she will run as a write-in candidate.  The GOP primary winner was West Pointer Joe Miller.

It's absurd.  Miller won fair and square.  Both are conservatives.  There are no great issues of principle here, as there were when Joe Lieberman ran as an independent after losing the Connecticut primary to a leftist.  Joe ran on his principles as an independent and won.  But Murkowski?  Lisa, sometimes it's wise just to say thank-you and good-bye.  Most observers believe the race will come down to a contest between Miller and Murkowski, with the Democrat making an appearance.  But you never know.  Republicans should unite around Miller and tell Lisa to try another time.

There are now rumors – only rumors at this stage – that Congressman Mike Castle might try the same stunt in Delaware, having lost the GOP Senate primary to the controversial Christine O'Donnell.  We'll soon find out if the rumors bear fruit.  I wouldn't be surprised if Castle is polling.

Maybe we need a new way to tell candidates that they've lost.  Things are getting very strange.

September 18, 2010