Palin won't run for Senate

A spokeswoman says the Alaska governor has no plans to challenge incumbent Republican Lisa Murkowski, and will raise money for her.

Published April 8, 2009 3:15PM (EDT)

Speculation that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin might challenge her fellow Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, next year, has been dying down recently, and now a Palin spokeswoman appears to have put the final nail in that coffin. Meg Stapleton told the Anchorage Daily News, "The governor has no intention of running for the senator's seat in 2010. [Palin] thinks the senator is doing a great job and that's why she's looking forward to hosting a fundraiser for her."

The rumors about Palin taking a shot at Murkowski had been fueled by a rivalry between Palin and the Murkowski family; the governor got her job by defeating Lisa Murkowski's father Frank in the 2006 Republican primary. And, of course, there's the national profile that comes with a Senate seat. Palin herself is up for re-election in 2010, and hasn't said yet what her plans are.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

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