How would national GOP react to a Murkowski write-in campaign?

She may be getting encouragement for a write-in strategy from friends and -- says her campaign -- "people coming out of the woodwork to support her." But it would put her in an uncomfortable position with the GOP in Washington, which is officially backing Joe Miller, the primary election winner, The Times says.

[Murkowski's] top aides began exploring whether she would be able to retain her [Senate] seniority, which would allow her to be chairwoman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee if Republicans took control of the Senate. That position would give her jurisdiction over major issues vital to Alaska.

A write-in run would force [Sen. Mitch] McConnell, the Republican leader, and his colleagues to confront whether to depose her since Murkowski would essentially be challenging the party's chosen candidate. ... Senate Republican officials said that if Murkowski runs they would expect her to resign her leadership position rather than force an embarrassing showdown.

CQ Politics reports that McConnell's PAC has contribued $5,000 to Miller's campaign. That's on top of $212,000 from the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Earlier this week, McConnell told Politico, "You hate to see friends that you worked with be unsuccessful."

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, chairman of the NRSC, told Politico today that Murkowski would probably have to abandon her leadership position. "It's hard to see how you stay as part of the Republican leadership if you are no longer running as a Republican," Cornyn said.

Murkowski has some leverage with which to negotiate, The Times points out. If she were to win re-election, she'd be a key vote with Republicans in a closely divided Senate.

If Murkowski were to win as a write-in -- and there are circumstances working in her favor -- "she will set a historic example of a political fumble followed by a miraculous save," writes The Atlantic's Nicole Allan.