'Tea Party' beats Alaska Republican senator
by Olivier Knox
WASHINGTON-In a new blow to US incumbents, a political novice backed by 2008 vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin and the "Tea Party" movement has upset a sitting senator in Alaska's Republican primary.

With barely two months to go before November mid-term elections, little-known lawyer Joe Miller led Senator Lisa Murkowski by about 1,600 votes when she conceded the race late Tuesday.

"Based on where we are right now, I don't see a scenario where the primary will turn out in my favor," said Murkowski, who did not endorse Miller, the general election favorite over Democratic small-town mayor Scott McAdams.

Murkowski's defeat after a bitter primary fight brought to three the number of sitting senators toppled in early party contests this year, including Democratic Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who lost after switching parties, and Republican Senator Bob Bennett of Utah.

"We congratulate Joe Miller on winning the political shocker of the year," said Amy Kremer, Chairman of the Tea Party Express that backed him over Murkowski, daughter of an Alaska political family.

Murkowski's father, Frank Murkowski, appointed her in 2002 to serve out the senate seat he was leaving vacant to be the state's governor.

In 2006, he lost the Republican primary for governor to Palin, who went on to be the party's vice presidential candidate in 2008.