McAdams says Murkowski could play spoiler

Scott McAdams said Tuesday he's worried Murkowski could play spoiler in her effort to hold onto her Senate seat and end up getting tea party favorite Joe Miller elected instead.

Miller, who beat Murkowski in the August GOP primary, has limited-government views that McAdams considers dangerous to the future of Alaska, a still-young and developing state that relies heavily on federal funding. Murkowski has also branded some of Miller's views as extreme, a characterization Miller strongly refutes.

McAdams said he wants Alaskans to vote based on their values and not on fear. But he said that if they're being strategic -- and can live with having either him or Murkowski elected -- the safe route is to go with him, because his name's already on the ballot.

McAdams estimates Murkowski will need 7,000 to 10,000 additional votes to overcome any challenged or disqualified ballots. He argues there's too much at stake for Alaskans to "gamble with a write-in campaign."

No U.S. Senate candidate has won as a write-in since 1954.

"This is a matter of political science, not politics," he told a gathering at the University of Alaska Southeast campus in Juneau.

Murkowski spokesman Steve Wackowski said it's an interesting tactic to "campaign on what Alaskans can't do. We're talking about what we can do. We believe we can make history, and part of the reason we're in this fight is, we think Scott McAdams is bad for Alaska."

McAdams and Murkowski have each cast themselves as the moderate voices in the race as they court undecided and independent voters. But McAdams said Murkowski is anything but moderate: While she built a reputation throughout much of her career as a centrist, McAdams said she's repeatedly put party over policy the past several years, including voting against appropriations bills that included $400 million in Alaska projects.

Murkowski has defended her actions, saying Republicans, worried about spending levels, were trying to impose a stricter spending limit. But McAdams still sees it as an example of a "dangerous" voting record and her squandering of her seniority.

Murkowski's campaign, in turn, has labeled McAdams, the former mayor of Sitka, as too inexperienced, a claim McAdams disputes. But McAdams still finds himself fighting the perception in the media that he's the third wheel, even as he's seen his overall fundraising near $1 million, making him competitive with his rivals in that regard.

"A lot of people have been centered on the drama," he said, alluding to the rematch between Miller and Murkowski. It's "almost like a train wreck people can't take their eyes off of," he added.

He said he believes that if Murkowski weren't in the race, he would be up by several points over Miller -- who has made headlines in recent weeks over disclosures about receipt of past government benefits, questions about his employment history and a tussle between security and a journalist after one of his town halls.

Polls suggest a tight contest among the three candidates.

"To the best of our ability, we're trying to focus on the issues," McAdams said. "This race is wide open now."