Political strategists said Sarah Palin was foolish to bet her personal prestige on Joe Miller, a relatively unknown lawyer and friend of her husband's, over Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska's GOP primary. Then Miller apparently won (though uncounted absentee ballots could theoretically tip the election back to the incumbent). Did Palin just score another big win in her bitter rivalry with the Murkowskis — she unseated Murkowski's father as governor in 2006 — or will Lisa Murkowski get the last laugh? (Watch Murkowski vow to keep fighting)
Palin's the big winner: Miller's win constitutes Palin's "biggest victory" yet this campaign season, says John Dickerson in Slate. "She worked for him more than a lot of her other endorsed candidates," not least by zestily "tearing down his opponent." And whether Murkowski ultimately loses or not, "Palin has already won." Real or not, it now looks like Palin has the "magic touch," and the "Palin brand" is more formidable than ever.
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